Joint Tribe Council (JTC) and Joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) on behalf of the four cognate tribes of Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme on Thursday submitted a representation to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, supporting the state government’s War on Drugs Campaign by declaring their localities as ‘Drugs and Poppy Free Zones’.
The declaration stated that The Indigenous Four Cognate Tribes of Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme had never practiced poppy plantation nor been involved with any kind of illegal drugs since time immemorial.
“Following the sincere and righteous footsteps of our forefathers, the four Cognate Tribes of Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme reiterate our stand against illegal drugs and poppy plantations. The Joint Tribes also resolved to continue preserving, conserving the unadulterated forests, its resources and giving life a valuable living,” it stated.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister N Biren Singh appreciated the Joint Tribe Council and Joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) for giving support to the government at all times, particularly in its fight against drugs, in the wider interest of the people.
He said that the state had been facing problems with drug related activities which are detrimental to future generations. The government had started the War on Drugs Campaign to uproot the ill effect of drug menace in the state, he added.
He stressed on the harmful effect of poppy cultivation on the environment including deforestation, degradation of soil fertility and pollution of water. He further appealed to all those carrying out drugs related activities to stop and come out in support of the War on Drugs Campaign.
He further informed that mass campaigns had been started by meeting locals of different villages to provide awareness to the people about the ill effects of poppy plantation. He also informed a meeting of officials from different departments including Forest and Police about the encroachment of land at Reserve Forest and Protected Forest areas of the state. He continued that divisional forest officers had been instructed to ensure that no deforestation activities are carried out at Reserved and Protected Forest.
Divisional forest officers are advised to take action against any person involved in poppy plantation by registering FIR and also to start carrying out afforestation activities as well, he said.
He informed that the government had received reports of subletting government quarters by some employees who had been allocated quarters in their names. He further appealed to stop such activity and also warned that action would be initiated against those government employees who sublet their quarters.
Concerning the recent drive on checking of flag posts on vehicles, he stressed that the operation had been taken up to check misuse of flag post vehicles in carrying out illegal activities.
Representatives of the Joint Tribe Council (JTC) expressed the decision to stand against illegal drugs and poppy plantations after consultation with villagers, taking concern on the future of the state.
Expressing hope that the War on Drugs Campaign would be successful and the state would become a drug free zone one day, the JTC appealed to all communities of the state to join hands and stand together to uproot drug menace from the state.
Chairman of Hill Areas Committee and MLA for Nungba assembly constituency Dinganglung Gangmei and MLA for Tamenglong assembly constituency Janghemlung Panmei also attended the press conference.
Answering the media question regarding the expansion of villages in hill areas, the chief minister said that expansion in reserve forest or protected forest area means individuals or a community does not know the meaning of reserve forest and protected forest or they do not know history.
“A person who does not know about Koubru may be an outsider,” said CM.
Regarding forest expansion, a survey has begun and the report will come out within two months, said the chief minister.
