Birtamod, June 20: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki has stressed that active public participation is essential alongside police efforts to control drug abuse and other crimes.
The Head of the primary law enforcement agency of the country said so while addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Jhapa Campaign against Narcotic Drugs Abuse’ in Birtamod, Jhapa district on Saturday.
IGP Karki lamented that despite the implementation of more than 15,000 awareness programmes across the country aimed at preventing drug abuse, the expected outcomes were dismal.
Hence, Karki viewed that the campaign should be taken forward intensely, effectively and strictly to improve effectiveness.
During the event, Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Kumar Karki, expressed his concern that Jhapa district remains one of the country’s most sensitive districts in terms of drug-related risks.
He thus called for close coordination and cooperation among all levels of government and agencies to address the challenge collectively.
Likewise, Deputy Inspector General and Chief of Koshi Province Police Office, Binod Ghimire, Chief District Officer of Jhapa, Shivaram Gelal, Mayor of Birtamod Municipality, Pabitra Mahatara Prasai among others univocally highlighted the need to strengthen community-level awareness to reduce narcotic drug abuse.According to the
statistics, the number of people estimated to be abusing drugs in Jhapa currently exceeds 21,000. The district currently operates 42 rehabilitation centres, including five dedicated to women.
The campaigners expressed their confidence that the campaign would further strengthen collaboration among government agencies, security bodies, local governments and communities to address rising drug use and its social impacts.#nepal #rss
