Shillong, Oct 17: The State government will soon come up with a slew of amendments and framing rules under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (PITNDPS) Act, 1988 to facilitate community participation in the fight against drug menace.

Announcing this after chairing a meeting with representatives of over 10 dorbar shnongs under West Shillong constituency here on Tuesday, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh said that issues relating to instances where witnesses having to turn up in court several times year after year have become a big deterrent for the participation of the community.

“Therefore, the social welfare and police department working in tandem to come up with a sleuth of amendments, rules to be framed under PIT NDPS Act in a manner that will facilitate community participation in the fight against drug menace,” he said.

He said the decision was taken after a lot of valuable inputs were received including problems being faced by the dorbars while reporting or while trying to assist the police while detaining these offenders.

Lyngdoh said today’s meeting was also convened in continuation of the series of meetings convened by him with all stakeholders. Last meeting was held with the faith leaders.

“We also discussed how we get the dorbars on board and engage with them in a sustainable manner which is already part of the mission DREAM statement which speaks about community engagement,” he added.

The minister said, “Charity begins at home. West Shillong constituency contains a large number of hotspots for drug trafficking and also many of the areas have been repeatedly complaining about the presence of these traffickers of illicit drugs.”

He further informed that the highest number of cases is in East Khasi Hills followed by East Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi and said, “We need community participation. Without community participation the efforts will be reaching nowhere. We have seen victory against pandemics through community participation.”

Stating that the government’s approach is multipronged, Lyngdoh said, “We encourage village dorbars to inform on the presence of drug addicts so that we can send them to rehabilitation centres.” He added that the government is giving free treatments in two centres in Shillong – Kripa Foundation Deaddiction Centre and KJPA New Hope Deaddiction Centre, both located in Mawkasiang and in Jowai and Nongstoin.

To a question, Lyngdoh said, “We are very serious on tackling this menace which is why these meetings have been taking place in almost every week and we are serious about coming up with new rules to make them more stringent and these rules will of course have to go to the cabinet before they are approved.”

“The entire endeavor of the government is to first minimize the impact and the extent of drug usage and ultimately we will come to a point where Meghalaya will become drug free,” he further asserted.

Further, the minister said that the government has plans to set up rehabilitation centres at the village level.

“We have that in mind. Most important for us is to get the support of the ministry which comes through funding on a 90:10 basis but yes we have plans and we are also very concerns that a number of these users actually refuse to go for any treatment which is why we have engaged with all stakeholders including religious leaders and today community leaders,” he said.

Meanwhile, the State police has submitted a proposal for issuing detention orders for 9 cases relating to repeat offenders under sections of the PIT NDPS Act.

“We have asked them (police) to resubmit the proposal strictly as per checklist as it has to be accurate and there should not be any mistake because order given under PIT NDPS Act by the authority will go to the advisory board afterwards. We have put in a detailed checklist and the police in the next few days will be submitting this proposal and we will issue the detention order,” an official of the social welfare department said.

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