Lyngdoh chairs meeting with 10 dorbar shnongs on drug menace

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 9, 2024

Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Monday chaired a meeting with ten dorbar shnongs of West Shillong constituency and assured to take steps to address concerns over the issue of drug menace.

Addressing media persons, Lyngdoh said the meeting covered a number of issues relating to drug trafficking within the areas commonly known as Lumsohphoh, Upper Mawprem and Mawbah and extending to the rest of the city.

“So based on today’s meeting, a very major factor leading to spur of cases relating to drug trafficking is the fact that it is falling under the Shillong cantonment board and has not been responsive and has been able tackle the settlers within the jurisdiction of the cantonment area,” he said.

“Where the issue of drug trafficking is concerned, it was explained that correctly there is a shortage of manpower. This is being addressed by the process of fresh recruitment in the police and we expect to be able to have more manpower at our disposal in all vulnerable zones,” he added.

Further, Lyngdoh informed that a number of suggestions have also come up during the meeting including bringing the areas under MRSSA, 2016 for immediate registration of residents of that area.

He said that the meeting also came to the conclusion of the formation of the village defense party (VDP).

“At the moment there are 17 VDP within Shillong agglomeration but I have personally made a request to the Dorbar Shnong to comply with our request for formation of VDPs in the respective dorbar shnongs,” he said.

“As far as facilities being minimal and not up to the expected level, I had assured the dorbar shnongs that we will take care of. I have had at least two rounds discussion with deputy CM in-charge home and we would take up the matter where the remuneration of the volunteers which today is inadequate will be upscaled,” the minister stated.