Urgent steps mooted to tackle drug menace in eight Arunachal Pradesh districts

Strong action will be initiated against officials involved in drug-related activities: Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: "Strong action will be initiated against the erring officials involved in any drugs-related activities in any form," said Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary (CS) Naresh Kumar on Monday while reacting to reports that many of the government employees are involved in drug abuse, it was decided that a toxicology test would be done in the eight worst-affected districts in Arunachal Pradesh. Expressing deep concern over the deep-rooted drug menace in the State especially in eight districts, the CS called for multifarious means to tackle this growing menace.

Attending a meeting of the State-level technical expert committee here, the Chief Secretary said that eight districts — Namsai, Lohit, Dibang Valley, Upper Siang, Anjaw, Changlang, Tirap and West Kameng — are reported to be among the 272 worst-affected districts in the country.

Stating that destruction of illicit opium (poppy) or cannabis cultivation is not enough to curb the menace, the Chief Secretary observed that steps must be taken to introduce education on drug abuse in the secondary schools and also the senior secondary schools. He added that women and panchayat members must be involved in the fight against drugs.

"Education on drug abuse to the senior boys and girls in schools should be taught through standard activities under the guidance of trained teachers," he pointed out.

The CS added that activities by women and panchayat members have been found as a preferred intervention in terms of sensitive handling of the matters. "Therefore, their incorporation for behavioural change must be incorporated for good influence at the ground level," he said.

"They should be trained to undertake public education on the menace of drugs for mass awareness. Proper sensitization and orientation to undertake kiwi, large cardamom, ginger and others as an alternate cash crop should be taken up," added Kumar.

Considering the need of manpower and other logistics, the Chief Secretary called for optimal use of the existing manpower and infrastructures by reorienting and refurbishing them.

To address the growing menace of drugs abuse in the State, the 'State Level Technical Expert Committee' (SLTEC) was tasked in November last year to prepare a comprehensive aAction plan. Accordingly, a team of 22 experts on the subject from various departments like the Police, Forest, Planning, NDPS, Agriculture, Horticulture, SBI, Skill Development, Administrative Reforms, Law & Justice were constituted under the chairmanship of Health & Family Welfare Joint Secretary Mamta Riba.

As a way forward, the SLTEC recommended that the executive committee of 'Narco Coordination Centre' (NCORD) allowed to function as a 'State Task Force' to oversee the implementation of programmes may meet bi-monthly. It also recommended that experts should be engaged for a study on the situational analysis on substance abuse in Arunachal Pradesh and its management with guidance from the 'National Institute of Social Defence'.

The SLTEC further recommended the engagement of a study group for a comprehensive baseline survey on substance abuse, HIV, sex workers and vulnerable group through competent survey consultants.

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