Social Defence

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR)

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India has been implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) with the objective of creating awareness and educate people about the ill-effects of alcoholism and substance abuse and for providing a whole range of community based services for identification, motivation, counselling, de-addiction, after care and rehabilitation for Whole Person Recovery (WPR) of substance and alcohol users.

The State has submitted plans for various activities, facilities to address the problem of drugs in the state by the Social Welfare Departments as well as other line Departments and NGOs for the following components:

(a) Preventive Education and Awareness Generation
(b) Capacity Building
(c) Treatment and Rehabilitation
(d) Specific Intervention Programme on Drug Demand Reduction etc

Various like awareness programmes on the ill effects of drugs, training / capacity building had been carried out by the DSWOs and NGOs in collaboration with line Departments in all the Districts under the scheme for NAPDDR.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) is directly funding and implementing the Focussed Interventions through the NGOs for preventive measures to curb the menace of drug abuse which aim to reach adolescents and youth in the community, increase community participation and public cooperation in the reduction of demand for dependence-producing substances and encourage youth dependent on drugs to come forward and seek treatment in safe and secure environment.

The following Focused Interventions has been setup in the identified designated areas which are run by the following NGOs:

1. The Community Peer led Intervention (CPLI) for Early Drug Use Prevention among Adolescents.
• Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Assembly Social Economic Life Development in East Khasi Hills, IGP Shillong
2. Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODICs)
   1. Kripa Foundation in East Khasi Hills District, Lachumiere Shillong
   2. Manbha Foundation in West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Addiction Free India Campaign) was launch on 15th August, 2021 which is an initiative of the MoSJE who has formulated an Annual Action Plan, ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ in 272 most affected districts which are most vulnerable in terms of usage of Drugs and launch a three-pronged attackof Supply Curb by Narcotics Bureau, Outreach and Awareness and Demand Reduction effort by Social Justice and Treatment through the Health Department.

In the State of Meghalaya, Shillong, Tura (Town in west Garo Hills), West Jaintia Hills/ Dawki and Baghmara (HQ of South Garo Hills) are identified vulnerable Districts under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Annual Action Plan 2020-21.

Various activities have been conducted by the District Administration and DSWOs in collaboration with various line Departments- Health, Education, Police, etc and NGOs to address the problem of drugs in the respective districts for a drug free community.

Activities conducted under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan by the State and Identified Vulnerable Districts:

Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFS)

The Ministry has also proposed to set up Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in identified Government Hospitals at Tura (Town in west Garo Hills), West Jaintia Hills/ Dawki and Baghmara (HQ of South Garo Hills) on priority basis as they are found to be more vulnerable as there is not even a single de-addiction and treatment facilities in these districts.

Currently, Tura Civil Hospital has received approval from the Ministry for the Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATR) as is functioning as a 10 bedded facility with regular OPDs.Due to space constraints at the Baghmara and Jowai Civil Hospitals, treatment is done for Out Patient Department (OPD) only.

District De-addiction Centres (DDACS)

The MoSJE under the NAPDDR has proposed to set up District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) in those identified vulnerable Districts which do not have any of the department supported facility of Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), Outreach and Drop in Centre (ODIC) and Community and Peer Led Intervention (CPLI). These DDACs would be operated by the NGOs and work under the overall control of the District Magistrate/District Commissioners and provide comprehensive facilities like outreach, peer led interventions, counselling & treatment facilities hitherto being provided by IRCA, ODIC & CPLI to facilitate convergence of all facilities under one roof making it more accessible, holistic and beneficial to treatment seekers. The DDACs would be set up preferably in District Headquarters or suitably accessible place where rent free accommodation is provided by the District Administration through Organizations duly selected by the Ministry with due recommendation of State/ District Authorities.

Grant in aid under Anti Drugs

The Department of Social Welfare also puts up an advertisement in the local newspapers every year for online application of various Grant In Aid (GIA) Schemes under Anti Drugs which are directly funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India for the interested NGOs to apply.

Meghalaya Drug Abuse Prevention Policy, 2020

The Social Welfare Department has implemented The Meghalaya Drug Abuse Prevention Policy, 2020 that has been approved by the Cabinet on 12.03.2020 and published in the Gazette of Meghalaya Part IIA on 25th June, 2020. It was officially released by the Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare, Shri. KyrmenShylla on 11th September, 2020 at Yojona Bhavan, Main Secretariat Building, Shillong as part of the Meghalaya State Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. It is a proud moment for the State of Meghalaya, as very few States in India has a Drug Policy.

The Governor of Meghalaya has also constituted the following Committees on 16thMarch, 2021 for Prevention of Drug Abuse for a term of 3 years.

1. State Level Monitoring Committee
2. State Level Coordination Committee
3. District level Coordination Committee
4. Block level Coordination Committee
5. Local/ Village/Community Level Coordination Committee

Rehabilitation Centres in the State

The Social Welfare Department through Public Private Partnership mode has launched a 15 Bedded facility for children/adolescents on 30th March, 2021 called the ‘Kripa Foundation De-addiction Centre for Juveniles’ at Mawkasiang, Mawdiangdiang, New Shillong to cater to children/adolescents below 18 years of age who has fallen prey to substance/drug addiction.