Plague Outbreaks in India: Surat and Himachal Pradesh

Within a gap of eight years, the plague has struck twice in India. The outbreaks caused panic and necessitated an urgent assessment of our public health apparatus vis-a-vis our vulnerability towards infectious diseases. Generally speaking, the resurgence of epidemics and their effects on society demonstrated at least three vital national security issues. They are human mobility (cross-border and intra- border movements), transparency, and tensions between states, (which includes the threat of biological warfare).

ANIMESH ROUL
December 2003

International Illicit Drug Trade and India: A Conversation

Poppy Cultivation. Representational Image

Q.1: IS INDIA BECOMING A MAJOR TRANSIT POINT OF INTERNATIONAL ILLICIT DRUG TRADE?

Molly Charles: Yes, India has been a major transit point for Andean Cocaine and South African Mandrax. The Latin American connection for Cocaine is not very old, as Cocaine has been taking hold of the elite Indian only in the past few years. The cocaine market is encouraged by the fact that it is a drug that can be used occasionally, provided it is not adulterated. Researchers in other countries have documented occasional users of cocaine.

Dr. Molly Charles
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