AIZAWL: During the past 10 months, Mizoram has witnessed a staggering toll of 438 alcohol-related deaths, with women accounting for 77 of the fatalities, revealed state health minister Lalrinpuii during a session in the assembly on Thursday (March 07).
Responding to a query from Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) MLA Jeje Lalpekhlua, the minister disclosed that between April of the previous year and January of the current year, 361 men and 77 women succumbed to alcohol-related complications in Mizoram.
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The previous administration in Mizoram, under the Mizo National Front (MNF), had enacted the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Act 2019, as part of its electoral commitments to combat alcohol and drug abuse.
However, Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma recently announced plans to reassess the efficacy of the act, given the state’s fiscal constraints.
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Despite legislative measures, reports indicate the persistence of illicit liquor production and distribution, particularly on the outskirts of Aizawl and other urban areas in Mizoram.
Meanwhile, officials from the Mizoram excise and narcotics department disclosed that 86 individuals, including 13 women, fell victim to drug abuse between January of the preceding year and February of the ongoing year.
Of these fatalities, 76 occurred last year, with an additional 10 recorded this year up to February.
Reports suggest that a range of narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine tablets, are smuggled into Mizoram from neighbouring Myanmar, catering to substantial demand within the Northeast and Bangladesh.