Shillong, September 26: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has raised serious allegations that drug peddlers are operating both inside and outside Shillong Civil Hospital, turning the healthcare facility into a “nodal point” for the illegal trade.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, the pressure group slammed the Meghalaya government’s Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM) project, describing it as ineffective despite its Rs 50 crore budget allocation. “The much-publicised DREAM project has remained just that – a dream – while alcohol and substance abuse have spread to every nook and corner of Shillong and even rural villages,” HITO said.
According to government data, about 3 lakh people in Meghalaya – nearly 10 per cent of the population – are addicted to drugs, with the average age of addiction being just 19 years. Despite the scale of the crisis, the state has only 10 rehabilitation centres with limited capacity, while the government supports just seven de-addiction centres in total.
HITO further highlighted violations of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, pointing out that tobacco is being sold openly near schools and hospitals, including Shillong Civil Hospital. “While states like Delhi have introduced 100-metre tobacco-free zones around hospitals to safeguard children and vulnerable groups, in Meghalaya even a civil hospital is not safe from tobacco and drug activity,” it said.
The NGO called for urgent government intervention, stricter enforcement of anti-drug and anti-tobacco laws, and the expansion of rehabilitation facilities to address the growing menace of substance abuse in the state.
