Coordinated efforts needed to curb drug trafficking: Ex-

Former union minister and Congress leader Jesudasu Seelam today said coordination among various ministries necessary to control drug trafficking was "non existent" in the present government.
Seelam, a former minister of state for finance, was speaking here on 'Human rights of people who use drugs (PWUD) to health and safety: Importance of prevention, treatment and care' at an event on the eve of the 70th World Human Rights Day.
"The present government has stalled the work we began during the tenure of the Congress government to fight drug trafficking," Seelam said, adding that coordination between ministries was important to tackle the issue but was not practised by the present government.

"Awareness is the best method for prevention and it should be a daily process," he added.
Panelists from various backgrounds opined that drug addicts should be identified as victims and not criminalised.
Shaleen Mitra of the Aam Aadmi Party, who has contributed in Mohalla Clinics and De-Addiction Initiatives, said those who come out of drug addiction were ill-treated and shamed by the society.
"Though the police department knows about the chain of circulation of drugs, people at the bottom of the hierarchy become easy targets due to its inaction," Singh said.
Members from NGOs, law enforcement experts and lawyers participated in the event organised by an NGO HIV/AIDS Alliance.