Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma held a meeting with officials from the Social Welfare Department and others today to discuss the problem of drugs in the state after concerns were raised by traditional leaders and elders.
Briefing the press, the CM said that he has instructed the Home and Social Welfare Departments to come up with detailed plans and reports on what are the actions that have been taken and what proposals they can make and support they need to aggressively tackle the menace.
“The police want more technology to be able to scan and be able to stop the entry of drugs,” Sangma informed, along with more manpower. “I’ve asked them to make that report and submit to us in another 10 days’ time.”
The Social Welfare Department has been told to prepare a report on its actions and preventative programmes.
“We have asked them to prepare a more detailed programme on how each department, each organization, each headman, society and locality can play a role in ensuring that awareness can be created about saying no to drugs,” the CM said.
A review of rehabilitation, including the need for more rehab centres, was also held.
“All these aspects were discussed and now, after 10 days, all these different departments will come with a more detailed report and then we’ll be able to finalize on a proper plan of action,” he said.
Though there is no government rehab centre, Sangma said the state will support private organisations that are running rehab programmes. If the Social Welfare Department recommends a state-run one, then the government will consider it, he added.
“I think the management would be better and it would run better because NGOs have a sense of purpose in this specifically doing this kind of aspect, so involving them is more meaningful and therefore I would want more NGOs to come forward and we are ready to work with them and support them,” the CM added.
