The nemesis of Poppy cultivation catches up
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 11, 2013: With cultivation of poppy plants in abundance being carried out in and around Saikul area of Senapati district in an eye on the huge profit it brings to the growers, use of opium among the youths has increased tremendously and spread like an epidemic, Thongzolum Mate, President of Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Saikul unit has expressed concern.

He was speaking on the inaugural day of a 15-day long Saikul Area Drug and Alcohol De-Addiction Camp at Rescue Home, Saikul today.

The camp is being organized jointly by KSO, Saikul; Kuki Inpi, Saikul; Broad Way Ministry Church Coalition; NUCUS; RCDC; CoNE and AMADA.

While delivering the key note address of the function, Thongzalun Mate stated that out of the total 108 persons who have come to take part in the de-addiction camp, 57 of them using opium, 35 of them using alcohol, three of them using heroin (locally known as number 4) while eight of them using pills.

Again, among the participants, 38 of them are between the age group of 18-25 years, 49 of them are between the age group of 26-35 years while 17 of them are between the age group of 36-60 years, he disclosed.

Thongzalun Mate further stated that from among all these different age groups, youths between the age group of 26 to 35 are found using drugs the most and that too opium as it is easily and abundantly available in and around Saikul area.

He pointed out that Poppy plantation was carried out on large scale in Saikul area three years back.

But after the farmers are told of the harmful impacts of poppy plantation, around 80 percent of them stopped planting poppy plants and poppy cultivation has declined manifold today.

So, instead of forcing the farmers not to plant poppy in their fields, they should be made aware of the ill effects of poppy plants and made them to stop the plantation at their own will.

Speaking as Chief Guest of the function, Thangkhan Lupheng observed that abuse of drugs is akin to committing suicide.

If each and everyone of us do not come together and fight against the menace of drugs, we can never bring an end to the problem of drug use.

Delivering the Presidential speech, Tonglet Chongloi, Chairman of Saikul Hill Town, stated that we feel sad and unhappy whenever we hear news of a Manipuri being killed by non-Manipuris outside the State.

However, we are engaging ourselves in different mode of killing each other uninterruptedly.

Use, sale, production of drugs and plantation of poppy plants and other drug related plants, is a clear case of trying to kill each other, he noted.

RK Nolinikanta, President, CoNE, who was also present on the occasion, explained that NACO has opened 10 sites in Manipur for administering Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) to drug users so that they could abstain themselves from drug habits.

Another 14 OST sites will also be added to the existing ones and the identification of these sites has been completed.

However, since the appointments of required staffs in these new 14 sites have not been approved by the State Cabinet so far, opening of more sites cannot be initiated as of now.

He further informed that since 10 sites have already been opened, NACO is supplying the required medicines.

But the medicines are being dumped and left unused in the office of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society.

He went on to state that opening of an OST site in Saikul area where drug abuse is widely prevalent, has been approved by NACO, and it still awaits the Cabinet approval for opening.

As such, the people of Saikul area should also press the concerned authority in this regard.

Phony Meetei, General Secretary of AMADA, who was also present on the occasion, pointed out that earlier, an individual using drug only spoils himself.

But today, a drug user is found engaged in many crimes like extortion and rape.

So, there is the need to remain alert and see that we stay ourselves away from drugs as far as possible.

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