SHILLONG:
Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, on June 7, informed that the department would soon conduct a fresh survey on the population of drug users and set up more rehabilitation centres in the state.
The minister also asserted the need to amend the rules for implementing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, to allow police to effectively tackle the issue of drug trafficking in the state.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said there are over 2.5 lakh drug users in the state as per statistics readily available with the department. However, these figures were compiled three years ago.
Majority of the drug users are teenagers and those between the age group of 20 and 30 years.
“These are figures (2.5 lakh) of the department and they are of three years ago and what I am saying is that we need to update these figures so let the new director (of the department) take over and then we can begin the fresh survey (on population of drug users in the state),” he said.
He said most of the drug users were youths, including girls, in their 20s and 30s ; this is linked to diseases like HIV/AIDs and general lack of direction in life. “So we will be advocating more awareness programmes and we will certainly pay more attention to this aspect,” he added.
Lyngdoh said the government will intensify its action plan on rehabilitation of those who have gone astray adding “we should be able to cover the entire state in the next six months.”
Pointing out that Meghalaya was yet to have a state-owned rehabilitation centre, he said the government intended to set up rehab centres. The issue here is the exorbitant rates charged by private rehab centres, so the government has to step in.
Meanwhile, the minister also asserted the need to strengthen the NDPS Act for empowering the police to effectively deal with drug trafficking.
“Shillong is a transit point people are using to go to other states and we are also neighbouring Myanmar. Secondly, the NDPS is a national Act and it has many provisions which prevent police from doing their job effectively. They put the onus of responsibility on the person who is the complainant. What is needed is for us to strengthen the rules as the rules of the central acts are being drafted by the respective state governments. Therefore, the immediate priority is to strengthen and tighten the rules we have. We will make them foolproof to address the challenges we have in terms of the Act. Thirdly, I feel it is the role of the society right from the educational and religious institutions to teach our youths (to say no to drugs),” he said.
When asked, Lyngdoh said again, there is need to amend the rules of the NDPS Act if the dorbar shnongs are to be empowered in order to eradicate the drug menace from the society.
“That is the responsibility I will take upon myself to also empower the dorbar shnong in order to eradicate the menace of drug abuse,” he assured.