SHILLONG, SEPT 26: The state government is already in the process of finalizing the draft Drug Policy which seeks to address the problem of drug trafficking and drug addiction which is on the rise in the state.
It has also assured to examine the proposal on the need to urge the Centre to bring necessary amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
In his supplementary reply during the Assembly session here on Wednesday, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said, “This menace has really jumped to a large magnitude I should say especially in the last few years that is why the earlier government had tried to move this policy but we are also committed ensure this policy is put in place (at the earliest).”
Sangma said that there are a total of 17,833 drug users in the state as per a study conducted in 2008-09 and because of different economic conditions and social situations, this menace have gone up.
According to him, few days back when he was in Nongstoin, officials had told him that West Khasi Hills is also facing a lot of cahllenges when it comes to drugs.
It may be mentioned here the last survey report conducted in 2009 by the North East India Drugs and Aids Care (NEIDAC) had stated that the number of drug users in Meghalaya had gone up to 17,833, an increase of 33 times compared to 1999 which was only 556.
Stating that it is challenge for the state, the chief minister however said that the police are working over time to ensure many people who are bringing and distributing drugs into the state are taken to task.
Earlier in his reply, Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla informed that the drug policy has been prepared by the department and is under process of finalization and approval by the state government.
He said that the draft policy was submitted to the government on January 25, this year and was returned to the department on February 9 for correction.
“The department submitted the draft policy on May 4 and again it was returned on August 23 for incorporating the views and suggestions from different departments including police, heath, education and others for which the process is on,” Shylla said.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress legislator from Umroi George Lyngdoh sought the intervention of the chief minister into the need to move a resolution for amending the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
Stating that drug trafficking has grown menacingly in the state, Lyngdoh however said that the NDPS Act that is applicable to traffickers has got some problem in it as until and unless you have considerable amount of quantity then only you can be booked under the Act.
“I request the chief minister may be we can move a resolution to amend the Act to further empower the narcotic division of the police department,” he said.
According to him, in other countries the federal laws goes upto 1 gram of substance that is confisticated and it is punishable up to 10 years, but here in our country it is 1 kg with only two months imprisonment.
By Our Reporter
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