Shillong: As part of the Drug Reduction Elimination & Action Mission (DREAM), Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh released Rs 15,65,275 to the Mawlai Town Dorbar on Monday.
The cheque was handed over to the president of Mawlai Town Dorbar, Herlambok War, in the presence of officials from the Social Welfare Department and leaders of the Dorbar.
This amount marks the second installment of funding from the Meghalaya Government. The first installment of Rs 6 lakh was provided last year to support the Dorbar’s anti-drug campaign, which has accommodated around 30 drug users, offering them counseling and livelihood programs.
Minister Lyngdoh highlighted that the residents who were offered shelter by the Dorbar, with government support, have received counseling to help them deal with various issues post-addiction.
“With today’s release of funds the town dorbar will be in a better position to further amplify its activities and also involve more of these drug users, who have in the first instance a good number of them have returned to normal social life and few have also gone back to their families. We are extremely delighted with the success of the program and also acknowledge the support of the chief minister as the chairman of the state level committee of the DREAM project,” stated Lyngdoh.
The government is planning to set up more rehabilitation camps in the city, as there are over 2 lakh drug users in the state, including both men and women. The government is appealing to Dorbars to donate plots of land and support the government in running such camps, with the government providing funding.
“In the last general meeting convened by the chief minister, we had invited various Dorbars and made this open offer to them. A few responded but some of these offers still lack the required parameters which they should meet. For instance we are looking at plots of land which government can set-up the facilities or if they have the community halls which can be utilised,” stated the minister.
Lyngdoh also noted that the success rate in tackling the drug menace in the state has increased to 20 percent due to the active support extended by traditional institutions and NGOs.
There are at least 10 centers across the state supported by the government. However, the main challenge faced by the department is the lack of trained manpower to handle these cases.
“It’s not a facility where you keep a person in your custody and feed them. More than anything they require professional help and counseling and that’s something an area which is wanting,” said Lyngdoh.
The Social Welfare Department is in talks with a group of trained counselors and psychiatrists, and these discussions are expected to yield results in the coming months.
Regarding efforts to curb the supply of drugs, Lyngdoh explained that this issue extends beyond a single department. “The DREAM Mission involves the home police and health departments, which need to coordinate their activities.”
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“As far as entry points, the major entry point to Khasi Jaintia region is through the East Jaintia Hills District, we need to further strengthen the performance of the ANTF and tone up its efficacy and also increase its manpower and that will happen once recruitment to Meghalaya police is completed,” added Lyngdoh.
The government also plans to incentivise the state home department through the DREAM project, allowing them to organise similar programs from the police’s side.
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