Morung Express News/PTI
Kohima | June 26
Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta proposed a North East Regional plan to combat the menace of drug abuse and trafficking apart from the National level initiative. Otherwise, the region may not be able deal with its impact, said Datta, while speaking at the International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking today at the State Academy Hall as chief guest.
Datta said that setting up NE regional plan would facilitate greater collaboration and coordination amongst the states of the region. Cautioning people about the tremendous cost imposed on the society due to the spread of HV/AIDS in the northeast, Datta called for adopting a more comprehensive strategy to deal with this challenge.
Calling on NGOs and Government agencies working to rehabilitate drug addicts and HIV-infected people to share their experience, Datta said the current National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) strategy followed by northeastern states was not sufficient considering the ground situation.
A more comprehensive plan of action was needed as there was a direct co-relation between drug abuse and HIV prevalence in the region, he said.
Datta said the drug menace was no more a health-related or enforcement issue in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. It had become a social issue and “Everyone of us should understand and foresee the economic cost of it in the days to come when we have limited resources for development activities”, he said.
Sharing their experiences on recovering drug addicts and counseling in de-addiction centres, NGO workers asked law enforcing agencies to be more stringent as narcotics are easily available in Nagaland. They said unless the supply of drugs is curbed, no amount of effort for demand reduction will yield positive results.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Temjen Toy, former Health Secretary, Abou Mere, Khishili Chishi, President, NMA.
Kriebou Nakhro said the welcome address while David Khing of Kuknalim Foundation gave the vote of thanks. Earlier Khyochamo Ezung, Sesino Yhoshu, and Pastor Shimray shared their life experiences.
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