Mentor’s Comment:

• The dimension involved are-Social, economic, security, administrative, ethical and psychological.
• Measures that can be suggested to deal with the situation include- Value education at various platforms to instill dignity and self-worth. Motivating the youth. Organizing the female members (SHgs) and trained to explain the harmful effects of the drugs. Role modeling of the successfully overcome the addiction. Establishing the de-addiction centers. etc.

Answer:

The situation in the aforementioned district seems daunting, with the social and administrative system inching towards a total collapse. Consequently, the prevalence of such a scenario must be leading to wastage of human and social capital, a rise in crime rates, and endangering the future prospects of the district and its people.

Different dimensions of the crisis can be summarised as below-

• Legal dimension: The activities like money laundering, poppy farming, arms smuggling, emanating from narcotics menace, are legally prohibited under respective laws.
• Security dimension: Frontier districts in India are susceptible to subversive groups trying to undermine democracy and authority of the State. Arms smuggling and money laundering provide easy means of financing their anti-social activities.
• Social dimension: A society ridden with such maladies can never focus on education, health, development, empowerment, and welfare which are the key aims of a welfare state.
• Economic dimension: The involvement of people in such activities will lead to the emergence of a black economy eating away at the vitals of a state.
• Political and administrative dimension: Allegedly, local political leaders and senior police officers are hand in glove with the drug mafia and are providing clandestine support to them- which raises the question of moral and ethical propriety.

Measures to deal with the crisis

Since the problems have permeated through the social, political and administrative structures, my response, as a lady Superintendent of Police should be calculated, precise and swift, with long term implications in mind.

• Firstly, a thorough investigation must be conducted within the police establishment to identify the black sheep and they should be subjected to lawful punishment.
• Law enforcement: I would focus on scrupulous and strict implementation of existing laws -taking a cue from inspirational lady SP of Sonitpur district, Sanjukta Parashar, who efficiently curbed insurgency, seized tons of illegal arms and ammunition and arrested dozens involved in illegal arms racket.
• Taking help from Border Security Forces: Since my district lies in a frontier state; there is a possibility of involvement of transnational elements. For this, the police force must act in tandem with Border security personnel because with rigorous patrolling and search operations local elements can be isolated.
• Going beyond just law enforcement, I would also discuss the social dimensions of the problem with other administrative officers like District Magistrate- and suggest involving other benign actors like NGOs, Panchayat heads, etc, acting in a concerted way, for engendering education and addressing the issue holistically.
• Efforts should also be made to wean off regular farmers if involved in poppy cultivation.

India’s frontier districts need to remain economically prosperous, socially in harmony and free of illegal criminal networks because an afflicted district can have long-term adverse implications on the security, unity, and integrity of India.