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Drug free Kerala: The mission of political parties (Prof. Sreedevi Krishnan)

Published on 22 October, 2021
Drug free Kerala: The mission of political parties (Prof. Sreedevi Krishnan)
Kerala is fascinating, with its scenic beauty, emerald green paddy fields, backwaters,  with its architectural marvels of institutions of different faiths- temples, mosques, churches and even synagogues. Nevertheless, this sheen of God's own country appears to be fast  disappearing due the alarming rise in drug abuse and trafficking.

The preamble of the Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic .India is a parliamentary democracy with an independent judiciary. Therefore, India's political parties at the State level play a pivotal role in implementing policies and making decisions for the betterment of the  State, i.e., Pinarayi-led CPI(M) in Kerala. Apart from the ruling party, there is also a firm opposition party to guide the government by constructive criticism .The provision for vote of no confidence always hangs like a Damocles sword over the ruling party.

The enormity of the drug problem in Kerala is very evident and the solution to it is inextricably connected with the inner machinations of Kerala's ruling and opposing political parties. The Union ministry of Social justice noted that Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram figure on the national list of 127 most vulnerable cities of drug abuse .
Although Opium and cannabis/hemp cultivation in India dates back centuries, the current figures show an astronomical increase in production. According to the State Excise, in 2018, contraband worth Rs 650 crores was seized, while in 2019, it rose to  720 crores and in 2020, it shot up to a whopping Rs.800 crores.

Starvation sadly remains the primary problem facing the state of Kerala.  As Frank Moraes once commented " A starving man thinks through his stomach and prefers a loaf of bread to an economic or political principle". For  a hard hit state like Kerala , it is a struggle for existence and the survival of the fittest. Farmers and the unemployed literates alike, commit suicide on a regular basis due to starvation. They seek quick money through peddling drugs. Government funds allocated to heavy  agricultural infrastructure can help fight starvation.

Regulating the media is of paramount importance. Even though the constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of press, the ruling party can raise awareness among the public through substantial funding of a state owned media. The news of murders, dowry deaths, child sexual abuse are sensationalized and reported by the social media with unfailing regularity . Instead, a well funded public broadcasting channel can definitely influence the flow of information to the public creating awareness and transparency.

The Pandemic has wreaked havoc on the psyche of our youth, leading to idle minds, depression, drug abuse and experimentation. They should provide educational grants to incorporate drug awareness in the curriculum and to appoint guidance counsellors to help with drug rehabilitation and behavioral health.

The other problem that needs to be resolved with utmost haste is poor funding for our law enforcement agencies. The disparity of the haves and the have-not's in our country is shamefully stark and evident. Drugs are a recreation of the affluent. The rave parties are a common phenomenon that the wealthy flaunt at us. Drugs like MDMA, hashish ,ganja and heroin are sold in shopping malls and educational institutions alike. We have good Excise and Police departments in place. Unfortunately, they are not able to plug up the supply channels, because people in high places allow the real culprits to go scot free due to scant respect for these police officers. Providing them handsome salaries with benefits will solve this issue by curbing temptations to accept bribes. They would be able to wield more power without succumbing to pressures of their financial and social burden.

Communalism is another impediment for our progress. Politicians have the money as well as the muscle power to steer us toward a drug free Kerala. On the contrary, with their greedy and power hungry eyes on the vote bank , they use communalism to divide the people and gain power.

The lack of followup and accountability in the state is the prime cause of an ultimately failed project. We have no dearth of laws addressing issues about drug abuse and trafficking. Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 and the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic substances Act of 1988 , legal bodies like the CBN Central Bureau of Narcotics under the finance ministry and NCB Narcotic Control Bureau under the home ministry, to name a few.

Innumerable acts, commissions and reforms are in place but what is sadly lacking is continuous auditing, monitoring of progress at regular intervals.
This failure in the system is all too evident with the recent Vismaya and Uthara dowry related deaths. Didn't we have a Vanitha commission in place? Similarly neither were the Walayar rape and murder victims  protected by the so called POCSO act.

The "rule of law" implies that every person is subject to the law, including persons who are lawmakers, law enforcement officials and judges.  The rule of law will decay if a government has insufficient corrective mechanisms for restoring it ,leading to corruption. As Lord Acton said, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely", meaning as a person's power increases , his morality decreases. They focus on their own benefits and abuse their power for personal gain. It is a daunting task for a leader to stay the course on the straight and narrow. As Lincoln once said, "if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Therefore, the  golden panacea to this malady that weighs upon God's own country -lies in our hands- the hands of the common people. We are a democracy where people have the ultimate power.
Wendell Phillips, an abolitionist said it best in 1852, "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance".
We can make a difference by keeping vigil on the working of the Government and together we can strive towards this goal of a drug free Kerala.
 As Robert Frost said
Woods are lovely dark and deep,
But,I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
and miles to go before I sleep"

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sharila 2021-10-23 10:56:00
Excellent write up. Your knowledge of the inner workings of the local government is admirable,Professor!
SAMGEEV 2021-10-25 00:35:03
Excellent article.
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