The biggest obstacle in setting up more de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Meghalaya is not a lack of funds or land but a shortage of trained professionals to staff these institutions.
This was stated by Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh today. “We have a dearth of trained professionals,” he told reporters. “It is not as simple as having church leaders handle de-addiction cases. The real challenge lies in finding qualified professionals. We have no shortage of funds and we have even proposed training more specialists while seeking support from the Health Department in this regard.”
Given the urgency of the situation, the state immediately requires at least 15 trained professionals who can provide expert guidance, counseling and support to patients, ensuring they reintegrate into society without relapsing.
When asked about the progress of the Meghalaya government’s flagship Drug Reduction, Elimination and Awareness Mission (DREAM), Lyngdoh highlighted several tangible achievements. “For the first time in Meghalaya’s history, we have a dedicated police team led by a Superintendent of Police (SP) with a fully equipped office of its own. Our DREAM Mission Director has been actively engaging with other states, learning from their experiences and implementing best practices,” he stated.
Lyngdoh also stressed that the public destruction of seized drugs has been conducted twice since the formation of this current iteration of the government came to power.
Additionally, the state has sought greater community involvement in combating drug abuse. “The response has been tremendous. For instance, the Mawlai Town Dorbar is working with us on a de-addiction centre, while the Dorbar Shnongs of Mawbah and Upper Mawprem have come forward with a proposal to create a Village Defence Party (VDP). These are concrete, measurable achievements,” he added.
Responding to concerns raised by a forum about potential misuse of funds meant for de-addiction efforts, Lyngdoh stated that no official complaints have been received so far.
“A lot is said on social media, but we remain open to constructive criticism that can help improve government initiatives. We have been engaging with various stakeholders, including during a recent large gathering at Nongrim Hills. If there are specific complaints, we encourage people to come forward. DREAM is not just managed by the Social Welfare Department – it also includes the police, health, education, and law departments, all overseen by senior state officials,” he reassured.
On Meghalaya’s mission to become a drug-free state, Lyngdoh acknowledged the complexity of the issue, given the state’s geographical position as a transit point for drug trafficking.
“The major challenge is that the drug supply chain does not originate from within Meghalaya. Unlike Punjab, where drug production and distribution occur internally, Meghalaya is a transit corridor. Drugs enter through international borders, particularly from Myanmar and travel through Assam before reaching Meghalaya. This makes tackling the problem more difficult, requiring interstate cooperation, especially with Assam Police,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, Lyngdoh expressed confidence in the state’s efforts to combat drug abuse. “With the dedication and focus we have mobilised, I am optimistic that we can significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the problem. We have a total budget of Rs 50 crore under DREAM and we are committed to utilising every rupee effectively to curb and eradicate drug abuse,” he concluded.
