In a massive poppy destruction drive conducted across Manipur's Kamjong district, nearly 250 acres of poppy fields were destroyed in the hill ranges of several villages of the district on Tuesday, according to official sources.
According to the district administration, the poppy destruction drive was carried out under the supervision of the district deputy commissioner Rangnamei Rang Peter, with the support of the village heads and villagers.
Around 110 acres of poppy fields at Phungyar sub-division of the district. The drive in Phungyar was led by SDO Phungyar Rang David with the support of Ukhrul district Additional SPs Syed Samad and Syed Samir.
In Thawai village, 70 acres of poppy plantation were destroyed by a combined team of personnel of Litan Police Station led by the OC and the Manipur Rifles.
Around 130 volunteers from the village also extended cooperation by joining the destruction drive.
In Marou village, 20 acres of poppy plantation were destroyed by a combined team of Phungyar PS led by its OC and Manipur Rifles personnel.
In Tangkhul Hungdung village, 19 acres of poppy plantation were destroyed by the police personnel of Phungyar PS and SP Kamjong office.
Over 25 acres of poppy plantation were destroyed at Maokot village of Sahampung sub-division of Kamjong district.
Led by SDO Sahampung, Philip John, the poppy destruction drive was carried out by a combined team of SP Office Kamjong, personnel of Manipur Rifles, NAB, MPTC and Forest (Kamjong).
WATCH Now: Poppy destruction drive in Kamjong, Manipur
Tuesday’s drive is a part of the CM Biren-led State Government’s ‘War on Drugs’ Mission and Zero Tolerance Policy against Poppy Plantation. Village chiefs and villagers of the areas extended full support to the district administration Kamjong in its mission.
Drug awareness campaigns not enough
Meanwhile, in view of the rising drugs menace in Manipur despite the government's war on drugs, state Social Welfare director, Ngangom Uttam, asserted that drug awareness campaigns alone cannot mitigate the problem of drug abuse in Manipur.
The Social Welfare director was speaking at the first foundation day of Kanglei People against Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (KANGLEIPANAS) observed at Manipur Press Club on Tuesday.
The director stated that the structure of the modern family has weakened the social ties between children and parents. As such the communication gap has widened leading to unwanted deviations in life, he added.
Uttam highlighted that family has a pivotal role in preparing the child for realities of life. He pointed out that families should impart real world knowledge of how to cope with the challenges of life.
He maintained that addiction is a disease which should not be ostracized but treated.
“Society should discern de-addiction centres as treatment centres where people are rid of their addictive illness,” he said.
The director pointed out that present drug-based organisations failed to maintain smooth functioning of the organisational structure.
He highlighted that under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan – demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction are the three key areas the government is targeting to combat substance abuse.
“Demand reduction falls under the purview of the Social Welfare department while police scans supply reduction,” Uttam said.
The director further exhorted CSOs and student bodies of the state to collectively strive in mitigating the issue of drug menace in Manipur and appealed educational institutes to organise programmes by calling in experts of the field.
