Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association (SAHILCA) on Thursday submitted their pledge to unanimously support Chief Minister’s War on Drugs campaign on Thursday at CM secretariat, during which Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the campaign will become 100 per cent successful with continuous voluntary support from public and various civil society organisations.
Addressing the media, he said that Kangpokpi district is one of the most affected districts on poppy cultivation and with the support from SAHILCA, the War on Drugs campaign is moving towards success.
To bring changes and development for hilly regions of Manipur, MLA Letpao Haokip was given the portfolio of tribal affairs and hills, he said. Most of the village chiefs including those from Senapati, Tamenglong, Noney, Tengnoupal had already declared their support on the campaign and with the continuous support from public drugs could be eradicated easily from the state, said Biren.
He had given advice to the minister concerned to take a survey in order to set up shops for ration at far flung places, he added.
During the press conference, Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen read out the proceedings of an emergency meeting organised by several CSOs on May 18, declaring support for the War on Drugs.
The meeting unanimously resolved to ban the illegal cultivation of poppy plants with immediate effect within the administrative jurisdiction of Kangpokpi district and declare it a Drug-Free Zone in support of Chief Minister N Biren’s initiative on the War on Drugs, she said.
Saitu assembly constituency MLA Haokholet Kipgen also read out a pledge taken by the CSOs declaring their support for the War on Drug campaign.
Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip; leaders of Sadar Hill Chief Association, Kuki Students’ Organisation, Women organisations, Naga organisations based in Kangpokpi, Gorkha organisations attended the press briefing.
