SHILLONG, May 28: The state government plans to bolster Village Defence Parties (VDPs) in hotspot areas, including Shillong, to address the growing challenge of drug trafficking and abuse. This initiative was a key focus of a meeting held under the aegis of Drug Reduction, Elimination, and Action Mission (DREAM) on Tuesday, which included comprehensive discussions on the progress of the mission and the necessary interventions required.
Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh emphasised the need for a community-oriented approach to the DREAM policy, rather than viewing it solely as a government initiative. “We do not want DREAM to be seen as just a government initiative. To effectively eliminate drugs, the involvement of civil society is essential,” Lyngdoh stated.
During the meeting, the gaps in current strategies to combat the drug menace were identified. A major concern highlighted was the necessity to involve local communities more deeply in the DREAM policy. The discussions also covered the idea of revamping and reorganising the VDPs, particularly in hotspot areas.
Lyngdoh mentioned that in the last two sessions of DREAM, there was a general consensus that local communities, or Shnongs, should be actively involved in identifying and tackling the drug problem. However, representatives from various Shnongs expressed that they currently lack the empowerment needed to engage effectively in this process. Registering a case at a police station, for instance, remains a daunting task for them.
“We believe better policing can be achieved by involving communities,” Lyngdoh said. He added that VDPs would receive training before undertaking their responsibilities and that a meeting would be convened with various Dorbar Shnongs to discuss this further.
Additionally, it was noted that VDPs could serve as independent witnesses during drug seizures, which would aid the police in building stronger cases that could lead to convictions.
The initiative aims to enhance community involvement in policing efforts, ensuring that local knowledge and participation play a crucial role in the fight against drugs.
It may be mentioned that the state government is working towards developing a point of synergy among various departments and elected representatives to devise a new approach to effectively counter the problem of drugs in the state.
The government recently said that as per its report, drug hotspots are present in almost every locality of Shillong and several other districts.
