Need to fight drug menace collectively stressed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 10 2025: The Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) organised a "State Level Consultative Meet" on Implementation of Manipur State Policy on Psychoactive Substance, 2019 in association with ADUM, CADAP, CoNE, Care Foundation, Kripa Society, MNP+, MUC, SASO and UTrust at ADR Centre, Lamphel Court Complex.

The programme was attended by representatives of various Government departments including Health Services, Manipur Police, Higher Education, Department of Psychiatry, RIMS, NAB, Youth Affairs & Sports, Manipur Human Rights Commission, Manipur State Aids Control Society as well as representatives of ADUM, CADAP, CoNE, Care Foundation, Kripa Society, MNP+, MUC, SASO, U-Trust, Manipur Collective, said MASLSA in a statement.

In his speech, Member Secretary of MASLSA Alek Muivah stated that the menace of substance use touches every section of the society and the world at large.

It is a silent epidemic that eats away the foundation of 'our community', he said and added that drug menace knows no boundary thereby affecting individuals, families and society at every level.

"To save our family and future, every citizen should combat the drug menace collectively now," he urged.

He said that the Manipur State Policy on Psychoactive Substance was implemented on December 18, 2020 but there are no traces of its implementation in the State.

The policy aims to eliminate the illegal use of all psychoactive substances in Manipur, with the Social Welfare Department designated as the nodal agency for its effective implementation and monitoring, Alek Muivah added.

Pointing out that BOSEM, COHSEM and SCERT are to include one chapter on "harmful effect of psychoactive substance use" in the curriculum of students as per the policy, he added that the provision for designating a counsellor in all the Government as well as private educational institutions and Boarding/Hostels are mentioned for tackling psychoactive substance abuse at initial stage.

The policy includes provisions for outpatient treatment facilities at all hospitals, healthcare centers, and drop-in centers for individuals unwilling to undergo residential or in-house treatment, he said and emphasized that no psychoactive substance user will be denied services or opportunities, including admission to educational institutions, hospitals, blood donation, medical investigations, or employment, while ensuring strict confidentiality regarding their history and behavior as per the policy.

The policy stipulates that employees in both Government and private sectors are entitled to special medical leave for undergoing treatment for psychoactive substance addiction, said MASLSA and added that the policy has made a provision for resource mobilisation by mandatorily earmarking 5 per cent of its developmental budget allocation from Social Welfare department and 2 per cent from the departments of Education, Health, Youth Affairs & Sports, Home, Forest, Agriculture, Tribal & Hills, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry.

The policy allocates at least 1 per cent of the developmental funds from MLAs and MPs to achieve its objectives, as outlined.

However, despite the numerous constructive provisions in the policy, its implementation remains inadequate, it added.

Nalinikanta Rajkumar, general secretary of CoNE made a presentation on voices from the ground, community action against human rights violations of people who use drugs.

Representatives from the various line departments also shared valuable suggestions and inputs on the effective implementation of the policy.

The house suggested filing a writ petition before the appropriate forum to kickstart the implementation of the policy by its concerned departments.

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