Gangtok, 16 August (IPR): The 3rd State-level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) Committee meeting was held at the conference hall of Tashiling Secretariat under the Chairmanship of Mr Vijay Bhusan Pathak, Chief Secretary, today.
At the onset of the meeting, Mr PR Mishra Zonal Director, Narcotics Control Bureau(NCB) Siliguri, gave a detailed presentation on the action taken report of the 2nd NCORD meeting.
During the meeting, the following agendas were discussed and deliberated:
Constitution of the PIT Advisory Board,
Creation of Special NDPS Courts in the State,
Convening of State Level and District Level NCORD meetings and uploading data in the NCORD portal on a regular basis,
Proper feeding of data in e-Prison and CCTNS for updating of NIDAAN,
To integrate MANAS with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force(ANTF)
To display anti-drug signage mandatory clause while issuing licenses to bars/pubs/restaurants. Data of a number of signage displayed vis-à-vis license issued to be provided to NCB,
The proposal from the state under the scheme of Central Assistance to State for strengthening ANTF,
More awareness programmes and undertaking of maximum e-pledge in the State.
During the meeting, the structure and mechanism of NCORD while highlighting the initiatives of the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Government of India's roadmap to curb the menace of substance abuse through a strategic work plan were discussed.
The Chief Secretary emphasised the need for stringent monitoring of the drug supply chain, instructing the Drug Controller of the Health and Family Welfare Department to closely oversee the dispatches from the centre and their receipt in the state, urging strict action where necessary. He also directed the Social Welfare Department to formulate comprehensive guidelines for licensing drug rehabilitation centres.
He also instructed the NCORD Committee to swiftly implement the strategies discussed during the meeting and to provide regular progress reports. He stressed the need to intensify on-ground efforts to combat drug trafficking, directing the Committee to ensure that all law enforcement activities are closely aligned with the newly established strategies. Strengthening these efforts is essential to effectively tackle the drug menace in the state, he added.
Further, he asked the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) to coordinate closely with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and organise training sessions in Gangtok to bolster their efforts. The meeting also focused on strengthening border checkposts to disrupt the drug trafficking chain into the state. He urged officials to adopt digital locker systems for secure management and called on concerned departments to intensify awareness campaigns across Sikkim.
Additionally, the Chief Secretary directed the NCORD Committee to hold virtual State-level meetings, along with District Collectors (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) from each district. He urged all involved to adhere to the regular meeting schedule, highlighting that maintaining this frequency is crucial for sustaining and intensifying the ongoing fight against narcotics in the region.
Departmental representatives contributed valuable insights and suggestions aimed at enhancing the vigilance of stakeholders in the ongoing fight against the drug menace in the State.
The meeting had the presence of Mr AK Singh Director General of Police, Mr R Telang Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department, Ms Tashi Cho Cho, Secretary of Home Department, along with HoDs and officials from line departments.