Role of chiefs, community leaders in anti-drug campaign
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 22, 2023 -

THE importance of proactive involvement and sincerity of village chiefs in the hills for fruition of the on-going 'war on drugs' campaign has been proven with the surrender of two individuals who are accused of planting poppies but had been evading arrest since February 9 after threatening security forces who went for destruction of poppy plantation in T Boljang village.

Had the village chief not intervened in the case arid impressed upon the accused duo to accept their guilt, it is quite possible that they would still be traceless as they could shift place of settlement in any of the villages where their kindred tribe live.

Moreover, they could have remained safely in the same village if the chief is adverse to the idea of joining hands with the government authorities in tackling the poppy menace.

In fact, the two accused villagers giving in to the police after over 10 days of disappearance since the incident happened and when summon notice was served through the chief testifies that they were either in the same village or somewhere close.

Role of the village chief towards making the war on drugs a success story could be comprehended from a handful of pledge taking ceremonies held in the presence of the chief minister last year.

Subsequent to the assurances given by the government for providing alternative means of livelihood, some villages had prohibited poppy cultivation in areas under their jurisdiction whereas few villages were found continuing poppy plantations in-spite of the chiefs pledging to extend cooperation to the government's campaign.

Therefore, it is imperative that the village chiefs shall have to be convinced to at-least abstain from poppy cultivation, share information in case they face threats from anti-social elements or identify individuals who entice the villagers to continue poppy plantations.

The arrest of three people recently on the charge of investing in poppy cultivation should leave nothing to doubt that there are individuals who are eager to take advantage of the economic disparity among the hill dwellers.

In view of detection of fresh poppy fields in the hills and reports occasionally cropping up about continuation of the illegal but lucrative practice, it is obvious that procurement of technologically advanced drug-detection equipment and poppy destruction campaigns would remain fruitless unless there is support to the government's efforts at the grassroots level.

Regardless of police and other central forces periodically seizing drugs of varied quantities and varieties, there is no guarantee that proliferation of drugs in the grey market and society will cease any sooner.

For the civil societies their involvement in the war on drugs campaign is limited to extending moral support, issuing condemnation statements and demanding stringent action against drug peddlers and exposing the kingpins as and when sensational drug seizures are reported.

Compared to helplessness and limitation of these civil organisations, the role and sincerity of village chiefs in the hills and community leaders in the plains, especially in areas which have gained notoriety for selling psychotropic drugs and where manufacturing units had been busted in the past, would be the deciding factor for failure or success of the anti-drug campaign.