Lok Sabha Question No. 2772 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-13
Subject: Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Drug Addicts
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2772 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2018

## INTEGRATED REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR DRUG ADDICTS

## 2772. SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether a large number of cases of drug addicted youths have been reported in the country and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Government has taken steps to launch anti-drug awareness campaign among the young people and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether the  Government proposes to make a special provision for setting up of Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY  SAMPLA)

(a) The  last  National  Survey  on  the  extent,  pattern  and  trend  of  drug  abuse  was  sponsored  by Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  and  conducted  by  the  United  Nations  Office  on Drugs  and  Crime  in  the  year  2000-2001.  The  report  was  published  in  2004.    The  Survey estimated that about 7.32 Crore persons in India were users of alcohol and drugs. Of these 87 lakh  used  Cannabis,  20  lakh  used  opiates  and  6.25  Crore  were  users  of  Alcohol.  The  survey covered  40,697  individuals.  Only  males  within  the  age  group  of  12-60  years  were  part  of  the Survey.

The  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  is  now  undertaking  a  National  level Survey in collaboration with National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in August, 2016. The survey will provide national and state-level estimates of proportion and absolute number of individuals using various drugs and suffering from substance use disorders.

(b) The Ministry has issued an Advisory on 11.08.2016 to all the States/UTs on combating drug abuse  which  advises  them  to  prepare  an  Action  Plan  which,  inter-alia,  includes  conducting sensitization and preventive education programmes in schools and colleges throughout the year.

The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous organization under this Ministry,  conducts  capacity building  programmes,  sensitization  and  preventive  education programmes in schools and colleges on regular basis. During the year 2016-17, they conducted 54  capacity  building  &  skill  development  programmes  imparting  training  to  1332  persons. During  the  year  2016-17,  they  have  also  conducted  207  awareness  generation  programme covering 15516 beneficiaries.

Till now, during the year 2017-18, NISD  has  conducted 127 capacity building programme  imparting  training  to  4488  persons.  They  have  also  conducted  247  awareness generation programmes in various Schools and Universities/Colleges covering 23006 beneficiaries.

Besides, the Ministry has undertaken the following initiatives:-

- i) The  Ministry  has,  in  the  year  2016,  conducted  an  awareness  generation  programme,  in collaboration with Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY), to create awareness in children and youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse in 156 schools in 22 districts of Punjab covering about 52,800 students.
2. ii)   The Ministry organized two Regional Workshops during the year 2015-16, in collaboration with National Service Scheme (NSS), at Shillong and Indore. The Coordinators of NSS from all the North Eastern States, Odisha and West Bengal attended the Workshop at Shillong and NSS  Coordinators from Madhya  Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan attended the Workshop at Indore. The Programme was also attended by a large number of students.
3. iii)  The Ministry also uses print, electronic and social media for creating awareness. Information regarding ill-effects of alcoholism and drug abuse is also disseminated in regional languages through the All India Radio programme 'Sanwarti Jayen Jeevan Ki Rahen' and also through advertisements in newspapers.
4. iv)  The Ministry celebrates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th June every year by holding functions and organizing exhibitions to sensitize the people about the  ill  effects  of  drug  abuse.  National  Awards  are  also  conferred  to  individuals  and institutions  in  order  to  recognize  the  efforts  and  encourage  excellence  in  the  field  of prevention of substance abuse.
- v)    The Ministry has set up a National Toll Free Drug De-addiction Helpline Number 1800-110031 w.e.f. 07.01.2015 to help the victims of drug abuse, their family and society at large. The Helpline has been made functional on 24 x 7 basis w.e.f. March, 2017.
6. (c)  This  Ministry  implements  a  'Central  Sector  Scheme  of  Assistance  for  Prevention  of Alcoholism  and  Substance  (Drug)  Abuse'  under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to eligible Non-Governmental Organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies etc. for, inter-alia, running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts.

The  de-addiction  centres  financially  assisted  by  the  Central  Government  in  a  State/UT depend on the number of proposals received from the State Government/UT Administration. As per the existing guidelines of the Scheme, the proposal for new projects recommended through online  portal  of  this  Ministry  by  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  are  placed  before the Screening Committee constituted in the Ministry for consideration. The Committee considers the proposal of those de-addiction centres which are in existence for the last three years vis-à-vis their expenditure on de-addiction activities, their memorandum  of  association/article of association etc. Other parameters, inter-alia, include ensuring equal geographical spread and the centres mainly concentrating on de-addiction activities etc. Cases complete in all respects as per norms of the Scheme are recommended for consideration of Grant-in-aid.

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