MANIPUR’S OPIUM CRISIS harms all. Addiction, poverty, and loss spread across families and communities. Only united and brave action can stop another generation from falling to opium. I speak from my heart because I do not want Manipur to fall deeply into the grip of opium, like some parts of the world, where ordinary life is filled with fear.
I am deeply concerned for women who are affected by this opium crisis. Opium use can damage fertility and increase the risk of miscarriage. Of course, it is a matter of concern when operations proceed without risk assessments and lack of awareness. Even workplace exposure is dangerous because these substances can affect hormones and cells. Children are God’s most precious gifts, and we have a moral duty to safeguard them even in the womb. Scripture reminds us, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3 NKJV).
We cannot stay silent as many unborn children are already dead, even before they are born. Not everyone will agree, but I must speak for the common good on moral ground.
A Turning Point That Demanded Courage
In 2018, former Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s Government launched the “War on Drugs,” and it is still carried on under the current administration. It is a turning point for Manipur, which many welcome as a brave and visionary initiative. It is one of India’s most ambitious efforts to stop drug cultivation at its source. Significant seizures of heroin and raw opium show both the scale of the problem and the resolve of security forces. Let us hope and pray that this mission is fulfilled to the benefit of our society, environment, and future generations. After seven years, the results show progress but also expose the social and political challenges that lie behind lasting success.
Technology Transforms the Battlefield
The government launched a strong and coordinated crackdown. United forces – Police, forest officials, and border forces destroyed poppy fields, using satellite and GIS mapping to locate hidden sites. Fortunately, remote sensing has enabled enforcement to become proactive and precise, transforming raids into targeted operations in a significant way – P. Mazumdar (The New Indian Express, Dec 2, 2024).
The campaign has shown evident progress. Drug seizures have increased with intensified raids. In July 2025, authorities in Jiribam seized heroin and meth tablets worth Rs 76 crore, one of Manipur’s largest busts – The Times of India (TIO, July 20, 2025). Stronger coordination among the police, the Narcotics Control Bureau, and the Assam Rifles has disrupted trafficking routes.
Yet, the trade endures. Profits keep it alive. Clear political backing has kept the campaign active and visible, demonstrating what focused determination can accomplish.
The Question Technology Cannot Answer.
Technology and force can remove poppy fields, but not the poverty that drives families to grow them. Unfortunately, for many in Manipur’s hills, poppy farming is a matter of survival, and the drug mafia takes advantage of our misfortune. Destroying fields removes income and fuels resentment. Although cultivation has dropped by 60 percent (D. Achom, April 14, 2025), and 19,000 acres were cleared in seven year period(P. Mazumdar, Dec 2, 2024), the challenge continues. Enforcement opens the door, but only unity and community action can secure lasting change.
Lincoln’s Wisdom: A Divided House Cannot Stand
Abraham Lincoln understood this truth profoundly when he warned that “a house divided against itself cannot stand. The phrase is a biblical reference, originating from Jesus’s words in the New Testament, which can be found in the books of Matthew (12:25 NIV), Mark 3:25 NIV) and Luke (11:17 NIV).”He spoke these words as America tore itself apart, but his insight applies to any crisis that threatens a society’s survival, even in contemporary times. Lincoln knew that no nation and no state could endure half-committed to its future and half-resigned to its destruction, as full commitment with passion is the need of the hour. Victory required unity of purpose, even amid disagreement about methods.
Lincoln’s leadership during America’s darkest hour offers lessons for Manipur today. He never pretended the challenge was simple or that solutions would come easily. He spoke honestly about the magnitude of the crisis while maintaining faith in the possibility of resolution.
Community Cooperation: The Lincoln Principle
Yes, the real breakthrough in Manipur’s drug war won’t come from more raids or better strategies only – it will come from community cooperation, when people realize they are part of this campaign’s mission. It is not just idealism but practical necessity. Lincoln governed through a cabinet of rivals, bringing together opposing viewpoints because he recognized that unity didn’t mean uniformity – it meant shared commitment to common purpose despite differences.
Community involvement turns enforcement into a shared mission for Manipur’s future. Progress depends on public understanding and cooperation with the government. As Lincoln believed, people choose the right path when guided and heard.
Crop substitution works only when local communities take ownership. Farmers must help in planning and monitoring programs, as they have a deeper understanding of their land and markets. Top-down projects imposed from outside usually fail. Without local input, alternative livelihood efforts waste money and collapse.
Real progress depends on community involvement. When local leaders, faith-based groups, and youth organizations participate in enforcement and awareness efforts, the initiative gains trust and longevity. Working with communities, not over them, turns short-term control into lasting change.
Why Political Will Remains Essential
Political will has been the driving force behind this campaign. Strong leadership is vital – it can take ownership of the mission even when it becomes daunting. Leadership maintains enforcement consistency, blocks openings that traffickers exploit, and balances rehabilitation with development. Without political will, enforcement becomes sporadic, corruption finds openings, and criminal networks rebuild what was destroyed; we will then need to restart the process.
Political will must go beyond destruction. The initiative should now be expanded to build peace through social support, infrastructure, and new livelihood opportunities. Leaders must help farmers transition to legal crops and create markets that make illegal poppy farming unnecessary.
Our Moment of Truth
We stand at a crossroads. One path leads to continued division: a government enforcing without support, communities resisting without understanding, and the opium crisis claiming more lives amid blame and denial. The other path leads to unity – a complex, imperfect, yet demanding path that requires patience and understanding, yet holds the only real hope for lasting change.
History will judge us not by our intentions but by our actions. Our children deserve better than excuses and finger-pointing. They deserve a united front against the enemy that threatens their future. Lincoln understood that significant challenges demand great unity. He knew that division, even over legitimate disagreements, ultimately serves only the enemy.
Manipur faces its moment of truth. United, with political will matched by community commitment, we can win this war. Divided, we will all lose together if we are not thoughtful enough. Manipur’s communities may have different perspectives, experiences, and grievances, but we are not enemies. We are like a family going through a difficult moment, but we need to rethink and fight the common enemy, as failure is what truly shapes our understanding and resilience. We are friends, neighbours, fellow citizens, united by our love for our state and concern for our children’s future. The reality is, the opium crisis is our common enemy – hope it is clear to all? United we stand against it, or divided we fall before it.
As Abraham Lincoln wisely counselled: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.“ Let us create that future together – now!
Statement: I do not support illegal poppy cultivation. I support sustainable alternatives that strengthen society and help affected farmers in Manipur. I stand firmly behind the Manipur Government’s “War on Drugs” campaign. As a strong, united community, we must work alongside government agencies that are helping farmers abandon illegal poppy farming. We, the people of Manipur, can eliminate unlawful poppy cultivation through collective effort. I call upon the entire Manipur community to unite as one team in this fight against illegal cultivation of poppy, working together to create sustainable livelihoods and a healthier future for all.
(The views expressed are personal, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ukhrul Times. The Ukhrul Times values and encourages diverse perspectives. The author, Chongboi Haokip, MCIHort, is an international development consultant specialising in agriculture, horticulture, and trade facilitation. She can be reached at chongboi4community@gmail.com.)