Shillong, December 9: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Meghalaya convened a crucial meeting today under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. The primary objective of the meeting was to devise a comprehensive roadmap for eradicating drug abuse in the state.
The meeting, attended by key officials including Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Health Minister Dr. M Ampareen Lyngdoh, Education Minister Rakkam Sangma, Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, and Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang, delved into a three-pronged strategy: law enforcement, harm reduction, and social security.
Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, said that a holistic approach needs to be taken and said that the ANTF needs also to sit with each of the concerned departments and work on the implementation of the strategy in a phase wise manner and have the action plan devised into short term, medium term and long term plans. “The scope of the ANTF is immense and vast so it would be practical and sensible to first leverage on the low hanging fruits and implement the strategy as pilot projects in certain hotbeds of drug menace in the State,” he said.
He also added that the approach needs to be a combination of zero tolerance while keeping in mind the humane sides of drug menace in the state and said, “While there should be zero tolerance by the Law Enforcement on the supply and distribution of drugs but the humane side from the point of view of the users, their rehabilitation, health and integration into the society the essential role of the Health department and the Social Welfare department comes into effect.” He also stressed on the role of the Education department in sensitizing and creating awareness against drug abuse.
The meeting also discussed the testing, detoxing and rehabilitation centers and also on strategies to break the supply chain of drugs in the state.
It also focused on the role of the Education Department in raising awareness about drug abuse and its harmful consequences.