By Our Reporter
Shillong, Oct 13: The KSU lauded the state government for its efforts to join hands with the leaders of various religious groups to eradicate the scourge of drug trafficking and abuse in the state.
In a statement here on Friday, KSU general secretary, Donald V Thabah said that the joint efforts of the government, religious leaders, traditional heads and the NGOs in the fight against drugs is a step in the right direction.
“We are concerned since many of the youths are vulnerable to drugs use and this is going to have a major impact on their future. Not only this, the problem of drugs is affecting the society and it has destroyed many families,” he said.
According to him, drug abuse is becoming a grave problem both in urban and rural Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, he also informed that the union had recently met Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong to discuss on the issue.
The union expressed their concern before the deputy chief minister that the drug peddlers always manage to get out of jail since there are serious flaws in the NDPS Act.
Thabah also informed that they have also suggested the government on the need to set up more rehabilitation and de-addiction centres in various localities of Shillong.
“We have also suggested that there should be centres for treatment of people who are into drug addiction at the district headquarters, sub division and blocks,” the KSU general secretary said.
He also said that they have also expressed their concern on the frequent seizures of drugs in various parts of East Jaintia Hills and the same has been reported in the media.
Meanwhile, Thabah said that they were told by the deputy chief minister that the social welfare department has constituted an advisory committee following its decision to implement the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988.
