The Meghalaya government has set up six of its own drug rehabilitation centres and is also providing financial support to private foundations to run their own, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh informed today.
The latest initiative was for a centre in Mawlai for which the Mawlai Town Dorbar donated the land.
“We urge other dorbar shnongs to come forward and help the government and individuals to get us land for setting up such centres,” Lyngdoh said.
One of the obstacles is that residents are uncomfortable with such centres in their neighbourhoods. While recognising this, the minister said, “I appeal to all to understand that the problem of drug addiction is not faced by one or five localities but by every locality, both urban and rural, and there’s a need for a community initiative to reach out to the youth who have gone astray after falling prey to drug addiction.”
