The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has criticised the State government over implementation of the DREAM (Drug Reduction, Elimination, and Action Mission), alleging it is limited to “paper promises” rather than tangible progress.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem expressed his disappointment, stating that the government’s promises—made as far back as November have yet to be fulfilled. He said that demands under the mission that remain unaddressed include the establishment of rehabilitation centres.
“Despite assurances from the state government, there is no government-run rehabilitation centre established in Meghalaya,” he said.
He also accused the government of failing to operationalise the Narcotics Task Force (NTF) effectively. “While the government assured us that the NTF would be empowered to arrest drug dealers and criminals, nothing has been seen on the ground,” he said, adding that another major concern is the absence of fast-track courts dedicated to handling drug-related cases.
The organization criticised the DREAM mission’s leadership, accusing the director of focusing solely on conducting meetings without any visible action. “For the past four months since the Social Welfare Minister’s letter promising sincere implementation of DREAM, nothing concrete has materialised. Meetings and conferences will not solve the drug crisis—we need real action on the ground,” Synrem stated.
He further accused the government of wasting public funds on endless consultations without addressing the core issues. “These meetings seem to be an excuse to spend public money on refreshments rather than tackling the drug menace,” he said.
Meanwhile, the HYC said that it will intensify its agitation if the government fails to deliver concrete results soon. “We are giving the government one or two more days. If nothing changes, HYC will take the necessary steps to ensure these demands are met,” the leader added.
The youth council reaffirmed its commitment to reducing drug abuse in Meghalaya and vowed to hold the government accountable until the DREAM mission is fully implemented.
