PASIGHAT, AUG 27:
The 24th District-Level Narcotics Coordination Committee (NCORD) meeting of East Siang was held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of East Siang Deputy Commissioner Sonalika Jiwani to review the Action Taken Report on decisions and directions issued during the previous meeting.
Reviewing the progress, the DC directed departments and stakeholders to intensify coordinated action against drug abuse and illicit activities. She stressed the need for surprise drug testing in schools, police establishments and major government departments as a preventive measure.
The District Medical Officer informed the meeting that surprise drug-testing drives had been launched in rural areas through 13 health centres, with 950 testing kits distributed for the purpose.
The functioning and regulatory compliance of rehabilitation centres were also reviewed. The DMO informed that action had been initiated against three centres—Beta Life Care at 5 Mile, Living Clean Adam at Ruksin and William Home Foundation at Rayang—for operating without valid registration and licences in violation of prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The meeting was also informed that the previously closed Vision of Hope centre near VKV Joram was reportedly operating clandestinely without the required registration and licence.
The DC directed the authorities to take immediate action against illegal rehabilitation centres and ensure strict compliance with prescribed norms.
Reviewing enforcement against illegal liquor and other prohibited substances, the Superintendent of Tax & Excise was directed to take stringent action against shops selling unauthorised liquor, tobacco products and other prohibited substances.
During the month, six show-cause notices were issued and 201 bottles/cans of beer, 24 Breezers and five Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) items were seized.
The meeting also reviewed rehabilitation and skill-development initiatives for recovering persons. Four de-addiction centres reported 12 persons undergoing recovery, of whom eight completed their courses during the month.
The Department of Industry reported that 19 recovering persons had expressed interest in skill-development training, with preferences including computer and data entry, mushroom cultivation and electrician training.
The meeting was informed that candidates who had already undergone Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) training included seven in mushroom cultivation, 12 in pisciculture and seven in piggery.
The DC directed the Department of Industry to place the issue of skill development and employment opportunities for recovering persons before the forthcoming inter-departmental DDR meeting and coordinate with other departments to facilitate employment through government schemes and beneficiary programmes.
The Police and Tax & Excise Department were also directed to continue intensive patrolling and joint checking of vulnerable areas, late-night clubs, DJs and bars, and initiate strict legal action against violators.
As part of the ongoing drug demand reduction and awareness campaign, awareness programmes were conducted across the district, including a programme on drug addiction at Apex Professional University under the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat’ campaign.
Since the previous NCORD meeting, one case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act involving four accused has been registered, with heroin reported as the substance involved.
The DC observed that the NCORD mechanism was moving in the right direction and called upon all stakeholders to further strengthen coordination and intensify efforts to combat drug abuse and the illegal sale of addictive substances in the district. (DIPR)
