Youth in Goa to launch drive against drug

Villagers from tourist hot spots in coastal belt of Morjim, Arambol, Mandrem in Goa have decided to launch a massive campaign against narcotics trade in their area which falls under the constituency of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.

"The effort will be to convince people against drugs. The locals should come together and take up cudgels against the narcotics trade. We have got a bad name for the entire beach stretch due to some elements involved in selling drugs here," said Sachin Parab, son of former State Education Minister Sangeeta Parab, spearheading the entire campaign.

Parab and his group "Mandrem Vikas Manch" (Mandrem Development Forum) has decided to form a brigade of 50 local youths, who will go to each and every household and establishment distributing pamphlets and talking against narcotics trade.

"We have to take up this campaign because police are not taking any action. Local MLA Laxmikant Parsekar who is also Chief Minister of the State has also failed to curb drug trade. Hence, the youths have decided to act now before it becomes too late," he said.

The campaign will begin from this week wherein people would be asked to speak up against the drug trade.

"It is a wrong notion that locals want drugs to happen. They are against it but are afraid to speak out because of the terror created by certain lobbies," Parab said.

He pointed out that recent media reports have already revealed that Nigerians are taking over the trade in the entire belt.

"This means we can expect more fights for the supremacy," he added.

Parab said during the second phase, Mandrem Vikas Manch will also launch a helpline so that if anyone spots drug sale or consumption he can immediately inform.

"We will stop it with the help of police. We will force police to act," he said.