Itanagar, Dec 11: Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar today directed the government departments and Non-Government Organisations to work  collaboratively  to address the drug issue in the State.
Addressing a review meeting to discuss the issue of drug abuse and de-addiction strategy, Kumar directed the Police, Health, Education, SJETA, and Tax Excise & Narcotics to work collectively in order to give a tough fight to the anti-social elements that are playing with the future of the State by spoiling the life of young children.
He opined that it is important to give special focus on preventive education especially to the students. Therefore, he told the Health, SJETA, and Education departments to create awareness on the drug menace by organizing awareness programmes and workshops in schools and districts starting from the worst affected districts on regular basis.
Taking serious cognizance of the presence of suppliers, peddlers and consumers in the State, the Chief Secretary directed the Police to take all immediate actions to choke the supply chain at the earliest. He directed the Police, and Tax Excise and Narcotics to use every possible man and machine resources which may get them to the culprits and book them accordingly as per the provision of the Law of the land. Serious actions need to be taken against the culprits that should set as an example to other culprits, he said. He further directed the District Administration and the Forest Department to remain vigilant on illicit cultivation in their districts and reserved forests. Use of Satellite Images was recommended by the Chief Secretary to capture the cultivated areas in mountainous or rough terrains and take actions accordingly.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the status of Drug De-Addiction Centres in the State. Presently there are 8 Drug De-Addiction Centres in the State out of which 7 centres are functioning.
He directed the Health department to focus on the quality of the functioning of these Centres, which are in Pasighat, Tezu, Lathao, Hayuliang, Bordumsa, Khonsa, and Aalo. Necessary counseling, treatments, rehabilitation, follow-ups, and tracking should be made mandatory part of the treatment for the Drug De Addiction Centres, he said.
The Chief Secretary asked the State departments to handhold NGOs and Women Organisations of the State who are actively involved in drug demand reduction and rehabilitation activities in the region by giving them necessary supports.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary (Home) Rajeev Verma, Commissioner SJETA Padmini Singla, Commissioner Education Niharika Rai, ADGP Ravindra Yadav, IGP (Law & Order) Chukhu Apa, and others.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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