After village chiefs, anti-poppy vow by legislators
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 06, 2023 -

SWEARING against those indulging in poppy plantation, assuring alternative means of livelihood to the poppy growers and taking pledges by the people's elected representatives, as witnessed in the last day of the just concluded assembly session, aren't likely to bring an immediate end to the poppy menace in case exemplary punitive actions could not be initiated against the culprits.

Nevertheless, passing of the private member resolution on the 'War on Drugs' in the Manipur Legislative Assembly some days back with all the 60 members pledging to Contribute their mite towards fruition of the anti-drug campaign is not only worth appreciation but should also prod the conscience of the legislators concerned in whose assembly constituencies poppy cultivation is widespread.

That some MLAs suspect commitment of their colleagues in preventing poppy cultivation in their respective area of jurisdiction had been laid bare when Keirao representative L Rameshwar suggested that assembly constituencies where poppy is found growing be deprived of government schemes and benefits including Local Area Development fund of the MLA concerned.

Irrespective of political affiliation, all the members lent support to the resolution moved by chief minister N Biren, under whose initiative the anti-drug drives are being carried out and is probably embarrassed that after over two years since launch of the campaign there has been continuous detection of large-scale poppy plantations in almost all the hill districts.

While only time will tell to what extent and how the legislators would notably contribute in eradicating the poppy plantations, outright condemnations against the drug menace by some ruling as well as opposition members and demand for stringent form of punishment to culprits during the discussion on the CM's proposal indicate seriousness of the drug situation in the state.

Hopefully, appeal by the chief minister that all the members of the House reach out to village chiefs, Church leaders, local leaders and clubs on the ill-effects of drug trade would be heeded by the people's representatives for their commitment and diligence would be most effective in the saving the future generations from falling prey to substance abuse.

Moreover, having taken the pledge to become anti-drug warriors the legislators would be now under constant public scrutiny.

While detection of fresh poppy plantations in the hill areas after launch of the 'war on drugs' campaign made it crystal clear that some villages are not intimidated by the government's warning that the whole populace might be prohibited from availing benefits of the government-funded welfare schemes, the recent arrest of a handful of individuals, including from the plains, on the charge of financing poppy cultivation underscored gravity of the situation.

Though the poppy growing villages are mostly located in remote parts of the state and the residents generally belong to the economically weaker section of society, it is the involvement of wealthier individuals in poppy cultivation through provision of financial assistance as well as reported threat to the villagers by armed outfits to cultivate poppies that should be of serious concern for the government authorities and the concerned stakeholders.

In such a scenario, it's obvious that campaign to bring an end to the poppy menace shall have to be a protracted one, must have adequate deployment of manpower to destroy the standing poppy plants and use of technology, including satellite mapping, to identify unnatural activities in the hills such as extensive clearance of forests, obviously for poppy cultivation.