Religious forum in Meghalaya joins hand with government to tackle menace of drugs

Shillong : The Shillong All Faiths Forum (SAFF), a conglomerate of religious groups have joined hands with the Meghalaya government to tackle the menace of drugs that has ruined the career of many people especially the youth and families in the state.
A delegation of SAFF leaders met Social Welfare Minister, Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday and pledged their support to the efforts of the Meghalaya government to control and contain the menace of drugs.
The meeting was a continuation from the last meeting they had with Lyngdoh two months ago.
Lyngdoh thanked the religious leaders for their support and along with them, a calendar of activities would be worked out including a series of awareness programmes.
A day-long seminar on drugs trafficking would be organised on December 5.
“There will be resource persons for this seminar and this is how we kick-start our joint efforts. We will not only confine to Shillong but other areas, especially as the menace of drugs has reached to many places of the state,” Lyngdoh said.
Urging the families and the people of the state to come together and fight against drugs, Lyngdoh said that the government cannot tackle alone without the active support of the society. “Therefore, the participation of religious groups is crucial. During prayer gatherings in the church or mandir or mosque, the religious leaders will speak on the danger poses by drugs to the youth and families,” Lyngdoh said.
Fr Richard Majaw from the SAFF, will also coordinate with the social welfare department on the calendar of activities to be conducted.
Lyngdoh informed that the government through the social welfare will fund the proposed setting up of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres, and with the support of Central government, around 10 de-addiction centres would be set up by March 2024, and the funding pattern is 90:10 between the Centre and the state.
Lyngdoh said that there will also a separate centre for the affected women.