SHILLONG: A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Y Tsering has expressed concern over rise in substance abuse among children and adolescents in the state and said the problem requires immediate attention.
The matter in the form of a PIL moved by M Kharkongor was taken by the Division Bench of the High Court comprising Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice HS Thangkhiew on Wednesday.
The court pointed out that an additional affidavit has been filed by the joint secretary of the Social Welfare Department.
It stated that a high-level meeting was convened by the chief secretary where the members unanimously expressed great concern about the issue.
The secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department informed that consultations are on with NEIGRIHMS for setting up de-addiction treatment centre until the state government has its own infrastructure to address this complex issue of de-addiction and other related problems.
It was also stated that Sanker Institute is an empanelled NGO, Kripa Foundation and New Hope Foundation are also running de-addiction centres and other NGOs were provided all assistance and support.
It was further stated that the government, in coordination with the respective departments, has decided that the Health Department will identify a suitable land for setting up a de-addiction treatment centre followed by submission of proposals to the Ministry under the Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for prevention of alcoholism and substance (drug) abuse.
The government assured to provide assistance to all the institutions, NGOs running de-addiction centres for organising various programmes, trainings, counselling skills and others.
The Health Department made certain arrangements like Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) being implemented in the state through NGOs.
At present, the state has five OST centres which are managed by experienced and dedicated staff.
Commenting on the letter of the chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, written on November 29, 2018, the court said the chairperson had proposed to set up de-addiction centres at government hospitals.
The proposal was being examined by the government in consultation with the Health and Family Welfare and the Social Welfare departments.
It was also stated that the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, Task Force Committee had submitted the Draft State Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction in 2017 and the same position was taken note of in the order on February 25 and in the same context, Social Welfare Department was directed to make its position clear.
The court, while welcoming the steps taken by the government, added that another additional affidavit needs to be filed so as to indicate what had happened to the Draft State Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction which had been submitted in 2017.
The court appointed senior advocate S P Mahanta as amicus curiae to ascertain the actual facts about working of de-addiction and OST centres since the issue is very serious that requires attention.
The matter will come up for hearing after two weeks.
