State processes to delete poppy villages from NFSA list
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 16 2023:
CAF & PD minister L Susindro Meitei has written a letter addressed to CAF & PD union minister Piyush Goyal informing that the state government is considering suspension of NFSA benefits to people of poppy cultivating villages, which may be extended further to completely taking such poppy cultivating villages out of the purview of the National Food Security Act.
In the memo, minister Susindro pointed out that as part of its War on Drugs' campaign, the state government is taking up various steps to encourage people shun poppy cultivation and the district administration along with other departments such as Police, Forest, etc., are vigorously taking up the exercise of physical destruction of existing poppy cultivation in far flung areas.
Some of the villages have also come forward to voluntarily take up the exercise of destroying poppy plantations, he informed.
The minister conveyed that the state government is upset on witnessing cultivation of poppy plants during an aerial survey conducted on January 13.As such, with an objective to deter people from taking up further poppy plantation, the state government is considering suspension of NFSA benefits to poppy cultivating villages, he added.
The villages mentioned in the memorandum of defying the state government's continuous appeal to stop poppy plantations include 13 namely Khubung Khunou, Govok, Lhangpikot, Leison, Khumbung Khullen, Thorcham, Mombi, Hengmol, Thingcham, Phaisi, Khumulen, Kholmunlen and Leijang in Chandel district; 5 villages along the Thangjing hill range (serial number 17, range 2/S1 No 18, range 3/16, range 4/15, range 5/14) in Churachandpur district; 11 villages namely M Ngamneh, Changsang/Bilei, Tingpibung, Waichei hill range, Hangoipat/Nathan Hill Range, Jangoi Sadang Hill range, C Aisan, Sompung, Gullam and Y Langkhong Hill range of Saikul area; and 7 villages - T Khullen, Haijang Hill range, Thotney in Koubru Hill range 1, Thotney village Koubru Hill range 2, Harup Hill range, Songpijang village area and Selsi village area under Kangpokpi district.