Shillong, Dec 9: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Meghalaya, held a meeting today, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma to discuss the Road Map for Drug Eradication in the state. Also present during the meeting were Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, Minister, Health & Family Welfare, Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister, Education, Rakkam Sangma, Minister, Social Welfare, Paul Lyngdoh and DG, Meghalaya, Idashisha Nongrang besides senior officials from the state government.
The meeting discussed at length of the Three Pronged Approach by the Law Enforcement, the police department, Harm Reduction by Health department and Social Security by the Social Welfare department. The meeting discussed the changes effected in structure, functions and processes of the ANTF and also discussed on the proposed strategy and the help and assistance required from various departments viz Law, Health, Education and Social Welfare departments.
Giving his remarks, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, said that a holistic approach needs to be taken and said that the ANTF needs also to sit with each of the concerned departments and work on the implementation of the strategy in a phase wise manner and have the action plan devised into short term, medium term and long term plans. “The scope of the ANTF is immense and vast so it would be practical and sensible to first leverage on the low hanging fruits and implement the strategy as pilot projects in certain hotbeds of drug menace in the State,” he said.
He also added that the approach needs to be a combination of zero tolerance while keeping in mind the humane sides of drug menace in the state and said, “While there should be zero tolerance by the Law Enforcement on the supply and distribution of drugs but the humane side from the point of view of the users, their rehabilitation, health and integration into the society the essential role of the Health department and the Social Welfare department comes into effect.” He also stressed on the role of the Education department in sensitizing and creating awareness against drug abuse.
The meeting also discussed the testing, detoxing and rehabilitation centers and also on strategies to break the supply chain of drugs in the state.
