Imphal, April 16: The All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) has pledged to fight against drug abuse and poppy cultivation in Manipur, a state in Northeast India.
The Church body issued a collective declaration that pledged to extend support to the government, organizations, churches, and individuals working towards the eradication of drug abuse and poppy cultivation in Manipur. AMCO stated that the declaration was made based on Christian faith, biblical ethics, and values.
The declaration was seen as a remarkable effort in the direction of eradicating the menace of drugs and poppy cultivation from Manipur. AMCO also appealed to all individuals involved in drug trafficking and poppy cultivation to refrain from the activity to save precious human lives and the ecosystem.
The organization called upon every Church, Christian, CSO, NGO, and individual concerned to take necessary initiatives to fight against the abuse of psychotropic substances and poppy cultivation to enable a drug-free Manipur.
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The Manipur government appreciated the efforts of AMCO and stated that the declaration added to the strength of the state government to eliminate drug abuse from the state.
The state chief minister, N. Biren Singh, said that the declaration strengthened the government’s resolve to eradicate the drug menace from the state. He called upon all communities to join hands in the fight against the menace, which impacts the youth in particular.
According to official records, 80 poppy cultivators were arrested from January 2020 till March this year. Senapati district alone accounted for 22 of the total arrests. A total of 4258.1 acres of poppy cultivation were destroyed out of 5013.3 acres surveyed from July 2022 till date.
In the fight against drug abuse, a total of 153 cases have been registered under the ND & PS Act in the present year. As many as 132 arrests have been made, including 106 males and 26 females. Drugs worth over 22.82 crores in the local market and 228.26 crores of drug value in the international market have been seized.
Drug abuse and poppy cultivation have been a major concern in the Northeastern region of India, with Manipur being one of the worst affected states. The state government has been taking steps to combat the menace and create awareness among the people.
The AMCO declaration is seen as a positive step towards achieving a drug-free Manipur. The Church’s support is expected to play a crucial role in creating awareness among the people and helping the government to tackle the issue more effectively.
Drug abuse and poppy cultivation have a severe impact on the youth, with drug addiction leading to a host of social, economic, and health problems. The Manipur government has been working towards creating awareness and providing rehabilitation facilities to drug addicts.
With the support of organizations like AMCO, the government’s efforts are expected to yield better results in the fight against the menace. The AMCO declaration is a testament to the Church’s commitment to creating a better society and eradicating social evils like drug abuse and poppy cultivation.
