Public, CSOs urged to help tackle drug menace
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Kamjong, May 11 2022:
A meeting cum workshop on alternative livelihood for people in poppy cultivation areas (Kamjong district) was held at Sikibung village (near Litan), Kamjong district, on Wednesday.
Organised by the district administration, the event witnessed the attendance of various government officials belonging to different departments, top NAB officials, CSO stakeholders and people from various villages of the district.
TNL president David K Shimray, EKCA president Jamkholun Haokip and STNBA executive secretary Rev Daniel Kashung were some of the prominent CSO leaders who participated in the workshop.
Delivering the keynote address, Kamjong deputycommissioner Rangnamei Rang Peter said that the state government led by the chief minister has been taking up the issue of widespread poppy cultivation very seriously and solving this problem has become its top priority.
While stating that the anti-drug drive has become stronger more than ever in the past few weeks, he, however conceded that the government alone cannot fight this menace.
Equal and similar responsibility and commitment are also needed from the side of the public and CSOs, Rangnamei said and called upon the CSO leaders to take a big role in raising awareness to the villagers about the harms of poppy cultivation as well as help in finding livelihood options for a better future.
The Kamjong DC further said that the day's event was just a beginning of a massive awareness drive and similar workshop will be held in various sub-divisions and also at village levels.
He expressed his appreciation to all the CSOs, villagers and district level government officials of different departments for taking such a keen interest to this serious societal issue.
Later, in the technical session of the workshop, NAB additional SP Sachidananda Soibam made a detailed PPT presentation on "the legal aspects and implications of poppy cultivation".
He informed that a total of 6742 acres of land (as per 2021-22 records) belonging to nine districts of Manipur have been affected by poppy cultivation, thereby giving grave environment, social, economic, demographic and ethics and religion impacts.
"There are only negative outcomes from cultivating poppy and even not a single positive one.
Its cultivation has caused huge ecological impacts such as massive deforestation and rendering infertility to the soil.
Moreover, the chemicals and large amount of salt used in the cultivation have polluted the streams and rivers with poisonous substances causing serious health hazard to the public, " the officer explained.
Others who took part in the technical session were Debadutta Singh, joint director (Horti & SC)/PD MOMA, and Dr Ibotombi Singh, director (Vety & Animal Husbandry), who both gave a presentation on "alternative livelihood to poppy cultivation" .