MP Padma Aryal Stresses Public Awareness and Budget for Drug Control

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) MP Padma Aryal has stated that legal action and arrests alone are not enough to control the increasingly severe problem of drug addiction in the country.

Speaking at a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives on Thursday, she particularly emphasized the need for widespread public awareness and adequate budget allocation to solve this problem.

MP Aryal mentioned that drugs darken the dreams of not only the user but also the entire family and the future of society. Discussing that the youth are the backbone and future of the country, she clarified that it is a matter of national concern that this group is falling into the deep quagmire of addiction.

Mentioning that various studies and statistics show a greater impact and networking of drugs at border crossings, schools, and urban areas, she proposed that the committee should instruct the relevant bodies to arrange regular monitoring in those sensitive areas. Her argument was that the traditional style of arrest and investigation alone cannot fully solve this problem.

Expressing her views at the meeting, she said, 'The state's attention has not reached the field of drug control sufficiently. The committee needs to monitor and review the effectiveness of the actions taken so far. Control is not possible by action alone. For this, public awareness programs, counseling, and effective rehabilitation centers are needed. An environment should be created for citizens to return to society as good people after rehabilitation.'

She emphasized that the state should allocate sufficient budget for such corrective measures and pave the way for the relevant bodies engaged in drug control to work effectively. Furthermore, she stated that the national goal can only be achieved by consulting extensively with non-governmental and social organizations that have been active in the field of drug control and awareness for a long time and proceeding based on the practical suggestions they provide.

She also drew the serious attention of the committee to make the role of the State Affairs Committee more effective in this matter and to provide necessary policy directives to the government.