SHILLONG, June 12: Even as the menace of drug abuse assumes an alarming proportion in Meghalaya, the state government has identified seven districts as the “hotspots”.
After holding a meeting with senior officials of different departments on Monday, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh told reporters the seven districts are East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills.
He said the localities and villages in East Khasi Hills identified as hotspots include Madanrting, Jhalupara, Nongthymmai, Polo, Nongmensong, Mawlai, Mawprem-Lumdiengjri, Iew Mawlong, Mawngap, Mawryngkneng and Pynursla.
The minister said the state government is committed to stamping out drug trafficking.
He also said that the government will soon notify the formation of an advisory board to pave the way for the implementation of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. It will be headed by Justice (retired) Shivaji Pandey of the Patna High Court.
“We have not been able to invoke the provisions of this Act because we are not yet able to create an advisory board. But today Justice (retired) Shivaji Pandey, who is also the chairman of the state consumer council, has consented in writing to be chairman of the advisory board,” Lyngdoh said.
“Persons with known antecedents of drug traffickers and involved in narcotic trade, whether big, medium or small, can be booked under this Act and kept under preventive detention for an initial period of three months which can be extended upto a year,” the minister said.
He said the government often receives complaints that the traffickers manage to obtain bail very easily. He said once the appointment of the advisory board chairman is notified, the government will be fully in a position to implement this Act and go after these known traffickers.
He said if someone feels being unjustly detained, he or she can make an appeal to the board seeking release.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh announced that the draft policy of DREAM (Drugs Reduction Elimination and Action Mission) has been approved and notified. It calls for a drug-free Meghalaya.
“Under this mission, a mission director and his team will assist the government in coordinating the efforts of various departments which are inter-linked to this issue,” Lyngdoh said.
He said a total sanctioned amount of Rs 5 crore has been set aside for undertaking publicity campaign and increasing awareness programme under the mission.
Lyngdoh felt the number of drug users in the state has gone up compared to the figures compiled in 2018. He said the department will update the figures.
“Under DREAM, all centres will use a single platform so that we have correct figures,” the minister said.
The identity of the person being treated will remain anonymous but the correct data will remain with the government, he said.
He further said five de-addiction centres – Break Through Centre at Khliehtyrshi in Jowai, Kripa foundation, KJPA New Life De-Addiction Centre, New Hope De-Addiction centre in Shillong and KJPA Selda at Nongstoin – have the full backing of the government.
Lyngdoh disclosed that the government is planning to set up three de-addiction centres, one each in three districts which are yet to be finalised.
Meanwhile, he said they discussed at length the need to strengthen the narcotic cell, which comprises three police officials, by increasing manpower.
“We noticed certain loopholes in the NDPS Act. I stressed on framing rules by the state government because certain sections of the Act like section 64 (a) gives space to drug users to escape the net of the law,” Lyngdoh said.
