'No retreat till War on Drugs goal achieved'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 10 2022:
Chief Minister N Biren has asserted that there is no question of the government retracting from the 'War on Drugs' till the objective has been achieved.
To make the campaign fruitful and inclusive, the CM launched a new scheme called "Cultivation of Horticulture Crops as an Alternative to Poppy Cultivation in Hill Areas" under "War on Drug 2.0" and brand "Manifresh" in a programme organised by the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation at its office complex at Sanjenthong.
Speaking on the occasion, N Biren asserted that the government is committed to its War on Drugs Campaign and there would be no question of moving back in its effort to root out drug menace from the state.
Continuing that his government has no enmity with anyone or any community, he said that the campaign was started with the aim to conserve forest areas, to uproot poppy cultivation, drug trafficking and its consumption to ensure a better future for the younger generations.
The chief minister informed that 355 farmers from Kangpokpi, Kamjong and Ukhrul districts, who were earlier depended on poppy cultivation for their livelihood, had been benefited with alternative arrangements under the War on Drugs campaign and also stressed the need of the officials concerned to visit various villages and meet the farmers, making them aware of the ill effects of poppy cultivation and about the initiatives of the government towards providing alternative arrangements for earning their livelihood.
Biren also suggested that officials conduct camps at different places to timely provide saplings and seeds for suitable alternative cropping.
Terming the people's unwavering support to the War on Drugs campaign as a historic movement against drugs, the chief minister assured the farmers not to worry about marketing platform for their produce as the government has provision for buyback of their produce and added that cold storage facilities have also been set up in many places.
Mentioning about the TRIFED initiative which is committed to transform the lives of tribals in India, he informed that more than 400 Self Help Groups have been formed in the state employing around 50,000 tribal women mainly on fruit processing.
Outlets for selling the products have been opened at many places outside the state, he added.
N Biren recalled the early initiatives taken, by Peh village by uprooting the poppy plantation in their areas for which government had rewarded the villagers Rs 10 lakh in cash.
He added that around 130 villagers of Peh had been benefitted under phase-III of "Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region" (MOVCDNER).
The chief minister expressed satisfaction on the people's support to the initiatives taken up by the government and assured that the government would provide all requirements for alternative cropping.
In his speech, Horticulture & Soil conservation minister Letpao Haokip stated that the state government under the supervision of chief minister Biren has started providing saplings of high value and nutritional crop varieties, which is of high demand from outside the state too, as alternative to poppy plantation.
Plantation of such high value crops would be economically more helpful to the farmers, he added.
Continuing that the government would provide saplings and buyback certificates to the farmers, Letpao said that they need not worry about selling their products, addingthat the people would be able to see a significant change in the economy of the state with self-sufficiency.
He appealed to the public to avail the opportunities provided under various welfare programmes of the government.
Later, the chief minister flagged off the vehicles carrying planting materials which would be distributed to farmers of five districts including Chandel, Kamjong, Kangpokpi Tengnoupal and Ukhrul.
Planting materials of ginger, turmeric, large cardamom, low chilling apple, pineapple, Kachai lemon and Tamenglong orange will be distributed to the farmers of the 5 districts in the first phase while winter vegetable seeds will be distributed by October 2022 in the second-phase.
Additional chief secretary (horticulture & soiLconservation) P Vaiphei, horticulture & soil conservation director Honey Chara, Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) project director K Devadutta Sharma, farmers and other officials also attended the programme.
It may be mentioned that to combat drug menace which has become a social problem, the state government has taken multi-pronged approach through inter departmental efforts to provide alternative livelihood to poppy cultivators with a sustainable integrated farming system.
An amount of Rs 400 lakh is earmarked for the year 2022-23 for implementing the alternative livelihood to poppy cultivators.
An Annual Action Plan with different components is also prepared for implementation with a target of 500 farmers covering about 500 acres in the districts of Chandel, Kamjong, Kangpokpi, Ukhrul and Tengnoupal.
"Manifresh" is derived from the words 'Manipur & fresh' horticulture products of the state.
The produces include both fresh and processed horticulture products.
The logo and brand has been launched to bring the entrepreneurs under a common platform and banner through brand building initiative.
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