Thirty-three communities pledge support to Manipur Govt's war on drugs

IMPHAL:

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, alongside leaders and representatives of 33 different communities in the state, took a collective pledge to work together and destroy all illegal poppy plantations during an event held at Imphal's Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre under the banner 'All Communities Convention for a Pledge Against Illegal Poppy Plantation' on Thursday.

Civil organisation Meitei Leepun organised the event in close collaboration with the apex bodies of the 33 communities under the supervision of the Chief Minister.

Reverend Zuankanmang Daimei of the Manipur Baptist Convention administered the pledge.

Meanwhile, Singh emphasised the importance of working together to uproot the menace of drugs and intoxicants in the state.

"The government will give an alternative livelihood to all poppy growers, and funds have been earmarked in the budget," he said.

We may note that the convention was held after locals across several communities responded to the Chief Minister's call to join the ongoing war against drugs.

Manipur shares a 398-kilometre border with neighbouring Myanmar which often serves as an entry corridor for drug traffickers.

Poppy, a source of the narcotic drug opium, contains alkaloids such as morphine and is known to be cultivated widely in the hill districts.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)

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