Shillong, August 27, 2025 – With drug abuse and trafficking spreading rapidly across Meghalaya, the state government is considering amendments to empower traditional village authorities in the fight against narcotics.

The proposed changes to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) and the Village Administration Bill (VAB) aim to restore powers to the Dorbar Shnong and Rangbah Shnong (headmen), whose authority was curtailed by an earlier High Court ruling. The amendments would allow village councils to maintain registers, monitor activities, and report drug-related cases directly to the police.

Officials said the plan also includes provisions under Section 6A of the MRSSA to protect headmen acting in good faith, the creation of joint district and block-level committees linking government agencies with local bodies, and amendments to the Excise Act to cover synthetic drugs. A State Anti-Drug Council is also being proposed to coordinate efforts among the police, excise, health, education, social welfare departments, youth groups, and village councils.

Community leaders have welcomed the move. Randsom Sutnga, Rangbah Shnong of Mawkhar, said empowering headmen would strengthen grassroots efforts to root out drugs, and called for further amendments to the NDPS Act. BantylliLang Nari, Rangbah Shnong of Nongrim Hills, voiced similar concerns and urged the government to adopt stronger anti-drug measures.

Lawmakers are weighing whether to bring the proposal as a Private Member’s Bill or a Government Bill, with the latter expected to have a greater chance of passage in the Assembly. Both community leaders and legislators stressed that the drug menace must be treated as a top priority to safeguard Meghalaya’s youth and families.