MSPB asks govt to speed up drug policy

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 19, 2019

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) has asserted the need to speed up the drafting of the drug policy for tackling the problem of drug trafficking and drug use, which is on the rise in the state. 

“Having a drug policy is very important as without this, it is going to be very difficult in addressing this issue which has affected our youth,” board’s chairman Lambor Malngiang told reporters after convening a meeting with officials of different departments including police and traditional heads on Monday. 

He said the board will hold a separate review meeting with the social welfare department on the need to further strengthen and speed up the drug policy. 

Lauding the efforts taken up by the state police in eradicating the problem, Malngiang however said one of the main concern expressed was the lack of cooperation from the people to be witnesses during seizure of such illegal contrabands.

“In view of this, we have decided to call the Law department officials to see whether this aspect can be simplified as people even if they want to cooperate would not like to appear as witnesses many times in the Court,” he said. 

The chairman further suggested the need to make it mandatory for house owners to submit details of their tenants to the concerned authorities. He said the government is taking priority to ensure the district task force (DTF) is implemented as mandated by the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016. 

Asked, Malngiang said as many as 31 cases have been registered this year and around 8 persons have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 

Stating that the drug issue is a battle that has to be fought, he said that the board would also visit other neighbouring states like Mizoram to study the system adopted by them in dealing with the issue. “Mizoram has been very successful in controlling the problem. Therefore we will see if the system adopted by them can also be implemented in our state,” he said.

Malngiang also asserted the need to set up rehabilitation centres besides conducting a state level survey to know the population of drug users in the state. 

“We will recommend to the state government for setting up of rehabilitation centres which will be well equipped to ensure people with addiction problem gets the right kind of treatment as this is the need of the hour,” he said. 

Admitting that the last survey report was conducted only in 2009 by the North East India Drugs and Aids Care (NEIDAC), he said that the board would also recommend to the government for conducting a state level survey at the earliest. 

On the concern expressed over the expensive treatment offered by the privately run rehabilitation centre, the chairman said all these matters will be addressed once the drug policy is in place.