SHILLONG, June 7: The state government is contemplating to revisit the rules formulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 to empower the Dorbar Shnong and other traditional institutions in the state to deal with the menace of substance abuse and to arrest the rising cases of drug abuse among youth.
Lyngdoh told reporters on Wednesday that they will try to amend the rules to ensure that the traditional institutions are empowered to assist the authorities in dealing with the problem.
“We also need to take the views of the Law Department to ensure the amendment of the rules does not clash with the fundamentals of the NDPS Act,” he said.
Stating that the state has approximately 2.5 lakhs drug users including injectable drugs and psychotropic substances users, he however said that they will need to update these statistics since this figure was of three years back. “We understand that the situation has worsened. I am sure more people are into drugs addiction,” the minister said.
He admitted that it is a grim situation especially considering the fact that most of these drugs user are youths in their 20s or 30s which is the productive age.
Lyngdoh said he is particularly concerned since young boys and girls are indulging in drug abuse which may lead to HIV/AIDS and a general lack of direction in life.
He said he recently cleared the appointment of senior MCS officer, Doreen Lyngwa as the Director of the Social Welfare Department. “The notification will take a couple of days and then we will take this process forward. We will need to update those statistics and this will take place when the new incumbent takes over,” Lyngdoh said.
On the possible nexus of the men in uniform with the drugs peddlers, he said that this is an issue which he had raise vociferously in the state Assembly.
“Now I am in charge of the Social Welfare Department and I will ensure that we tighten our grip over the system. And no men especially men in uniform should be allowed to operate in such a manner,” Lyngdoh added.
Earlier, Lyngdoh had said the state has some 2.5 lakh drug addicts, about 30,000 of whom are women.
“The situation is rather grim in the state considering that our total population is 35 lakh,” Lyngdoh had said.
Stating that majority of the addicts are injecting drugs, he said the government has identified 12 to 15 localities in Shillong where the incidents of the use of narcotics and injections are very high and these are linked to issues such as HIV.
He stressed the importance of the awareness of the civil society for tackling the major problem.
“Alcoholism is not our only problem. Drug addiction has become a more serious issue,” he said.
“We are sitting on top of a volcano. It is high time for the civil societies and religious institutions to step in,” he added.
Stating that the government will need a lot of support from the Centre to set up these rehabs, he said the state government plans four such centres.
Seeking a collective effort and cooperation of various departments to deal with the drug menace, he said the police and health departments are an important component in addressing this issue.
Lyngdoh said the government will revisit the rules to make them more stringent and put the responsibility on the person detained under the NDPS Act.
He said the process currently is so cumbersome and unfriendly that very few people come forward to lodge a complaint because they are summoned to the police station.
“Since the new government took over, the number of raids has increased by leaps and bounds. In my West Shillong constituency, we have daily raids and the results have been successful,” Lyngdoh said.
