Shillong, Sept 2: Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh has urged the traditional dorbar shnongs to cooperate with government authorities in formation of village defence parties (VDPs) in their respective localities to fight drug trafficking and drug abuse.
While making the appeal on Tuesday, the minister also informed about the enhancement of cash incentive for VDP members from Rs 800 to Rs 3,000 per year.
The VDP members have to assist the police department with information and leads, without being required to be on the streets 24/7, he said.
Lyngdoh, however, lamented that despite the government’s efforts, there are only 11 VDPs in Shillong, a city with a population of over 6 lakh.
He also referred to a recent meeting with all major dorbar shnongs of Shillong where the government appealed to the traditional bodies to avail the VDP scheme.
“VDP is a legal entity, which will also give them legal coverage and protection and which works in tandem with the police department,” he said.
The minister reiterated his appeal to the dorbar shnongs to come forward and take advantage of the government offer.
“This is not government versus people, this is the people with us together tackling the menace of drugs,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, the minister informed that six repeat offenders have been detained under PITNDPS for a period of one year, which is extendable if they are found to be repeating crimes.
Explaining the government’s efforts in combating drug menace, he mentioned about recent award of cash incentives of Rs 10,000 to ANTF personnel and volunteers, “which has not happened in the past”.
Asked, the minister said activism will not help but it will only defeat the very purpose of the government trying to tackle the menace of drug trafficking.
“As you can see the ANTF is now a totally dedicated police force led by an SP with its own vehicles and trained personnel… for somebody to actually physically go and catch hold of suspected peddlers is illegal and it also risks the health of a person who can come in contact with contaminated syringes and stuff like that,” he said.
He also mentioned that ANTF personnel regularly sanitise areas, which were not covered in the past, for instance Cantonment area, Iewduh, etc.
