Meghalaya: HYC to lead rally on November 8

Meghalaya Youth Group Plans Public Rally to Demand Stronger Action on Drug Crisis

By MyNewsNE Desk On Oct 20, 2024 Last updated Oct 20, 2024

Shillong– The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), a prominent youth organisation in Meghalaya, is rallying residents to participate in a public demonstration on November 8, demanding stronger government action to tackle the state’s escalating drug crisis. The protest will culminate in a march to the Secretariat in Shillong, where the group plans to present a list of seven key demands to combat drug trafficking and addiction.

HYC President Roy Kupar Synrem voiced frustration over the slow progress of the Drug Reduction Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM), a government initiative launched in 2023 to address the drug problem in the state. Synrem emphasized the urgent need for a more effective approach to curb drug-related issues, citing an estimated 300,000 drug addicts across the state.

The HYC’s demands include:

*Establishing more rehabilitation centres, especially in high-risk areas like *East Khasi Hills.
Creating free detoxification, OST, and daycare centres in regions with high addiction rates.
Setting up fast-track courts to handle drug-related cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Forming specialized teams for investigating and prosecuting drug offenses.
Enforcing stricter penalties for repeat offenders under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Opening a local office for the Narcotics Control Bureau in Shillong.
Expanding treatment capacity to provide care for the large number of individuals battling drug addiction.

In preparation for the rally, the HYC will hold a series of meetings across district headquarters, starting October 25. Despite criticism about the group’s methods, Synrem defended their actions, questioning the effectiveness of the government’s efforts in curbing the rise of drug use and trafficking in Meghalaya.

The public rally aims to put pressure on the government to act swiftly, as the HYC and other concerned citizens seek long-term solutions to the drug crisis plaguing the state.