KATHMANDU: Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has described drug abuse as a barrier to the ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ campaign.

Speaking at a program organized by the Home Ministry marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking-2019 here on Wednesday, Home Minister Thapa stressed the need of prevention of drug abuse to build a healthy, civilized and crime-free society.

The theme of the program was ‘healthy life with free from drug abuse for building a prosperous nation.’ “Drug abuse remains as the challenge to the establishment of peace and security and control of crime and both the government and non-government sector equally hold the responsibility for its prevention,” the Home Minister said.

He suggested that the three-tier government should work by making a policy to control drug abuse. The Minister said that discussions with all stakeholders concerned were underway to control drug abuse and arrange proper treatment facilities for the abuses. According to him, the Nepal Police is working for effective implementation of anti-drug abuse policies and acts through the Community-Police Partnership Program.

Expressing his concerns over the involvement of youths (higher than other age groups) in drug abuse, he said the Ministry was working to increase awareness against drug addiction in academic institutions. Home Ministry’s secretary Prem Kumar Rai shared that the number of drug abusers was on the rise in the country and a week-long campaign launched against it would help control it. “Latest surveys show that the number of drug abusers is increasing by 11.36 percent annually in Nepal and of total crimes, seven percent has its connection to drug abuse and it is the responsibility of all us to contribute for its control,” he said.

According to updates made available by him, presently 1500,000 youths are in drug abuse in the country. He sought an end to drug abuse to make a headway to ‘ prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali’. Home Ministry joint secretary and chief narcotics control officer, Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi said the number of narcotics drug users is increasing every year and underscored the need of vigorously implementing the awareness programs for checking this. He said the government should prepare a 10-year action plan for the narcotics control by correcting the shortcomings of the past.

He also suggested enhancing the capacity of the narcotics control bureau of the Nepal Police as well as the programs brought by various non-governmental organizations for narcotics control should be centered on Nepal’s priorities. On the occasion, a drama, poetry and public speaking competition was organized.

A souvenir entitled ‘Surakshit Jeevan (Safe Life)’ published every year by the Home Ministry was also launched. A procession marched from Bhrikuti Mandap and passed through Bhadrakali, Sahid Gate, NAC, Ratna Park and concluded upon reaching Rastriya Sabha Griha (City Hall) as part of program. The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is marked on June 26 every year as across the world.