Rehabilitation policy for drug addicts soon: Arunachal min

Arunachal Pradesh government will soon frame a rehabilitation policy for drug addicts in the state.
State Home minister Tanga Byaling today said this while responding to a question raised in the Assembly by PPA member Wanglam Sawin during Question Hour.
Byaling said five drug peddlers from Myanmar along with 191 local residents were arrested by the police from across the state in the past three years, a total of 140 cases have been registered in various police stations of the state and 4.4 kg of heroin and brown sugar were seized from various drug addicts and peddlers between 2012 to June 2014.

848.99 kg of ganja was also seized during the period from Changlang, Tirap, Lohit, Upper Subansiri, Papum Pare, East Saing, Lower Subansiri and West Kameng districts, the minister said adding, the police have destroyed poppy cultivation on 2,803.25 acres in various districts.
Asserting that the state government would soon frame a rehabilitation policy for drug addicts in the state, Byaling said appropriate efforts would be made to provide alternative sources of income to opium cultivators.
Suggesting a policy through coordination among departments like health, social welfare, home and excise to curb the drug menace, he urged all stakeholders to join hands in creating awareness among the people to check the menace.

"Government alone cannot stop drug peddling in the state unless NGOs, panchayats and leaders join hands to create awareness among people on the ill effects of drug abuse," Byaling added.