Lok Sabha Question No. 1858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Drug abuse among Children
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: A.T. (NANA) PATIL

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1838 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2017

1858. SHRI AT. NANA PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Supreme Court has recently directed the Government to prepare a National plan to curb alcohol and substance abuse among children; drug;
- (b) if so, the details-thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the fresh steps taken by the Government to check the widespread menace of drug abuse among children, particularly adolescent?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) The Suf-eme Court in its judgement dated 14.12.2016 in the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 906 of2014 has given the following directions:
1. Complete a National Survey and generate a national database within-a period of six months;
- other also address the areas of immediate concern noted earlier; and things
- iii, Adopt specific content in the school curriculum under the aegis of New Education Policy (NEP)

The Government has taken the following measures:

The Ministry has, in the month of August, 2016, assigned the work of conducting the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India to National Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, New Delhi to be completed by 2018. Drug

The Ministry has  formulated a National Policy for Demand Reduction which at present, has been referred to a Group of Ministers headed by the Minister of Home Affairs. Drug

The Ministry has issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories o 11.8.2016 for coordinated action to address the problem of abuse   which, inter-alia, includes prevention of substance abuse among children in the country. taking drug

In   addition; the Ministry   implements a "Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse" which provides financial assistance to eligible Non-Governmental Organizations, Panchayati Raj Institution, Urban Local Bodies, etc. for running Integrated Rehabilitation Centres of Addicts to provide compositelintegrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts including child users.

National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Social Justice &   Empowerment; in association with   collaborating   agencies, has been conducting awareness and capacity building programmes in schools, colleges, universities and community on ill effects of alcoholism and substance (drug) abuse as a measure of preventive The details of the programmes organized by the NISD during the current financial year is placed at Annexure: being step:

Ministry of Women and Child Development have informed that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act; 2015 (JJ Act) has come into effect from 15.01.2016 repealing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) 2000. In the said Act; a separate chapter has been added in which stringent penalty has been imposed on whoever gives intoxicating liquor Or narcotic or psychotropic substance to a child: Act; drug

With  regard  to   specific content in the school curriculum under  the   aegis of New Education   Policy  (NEP), Department of Higher   Education, Ministry of  Human  Resource Development (MHRD) have informed that are in the process of formulation of NEP for which it carried out   nearly a year highly   participative, inclusive and multi-pronged consultation process, through online, grassroots and thematic expert consultations across 33 identified   themes   Meetings were held   with and State Governments MHRD had   constituted a Committee for  Evolution the NEP which submitted its report in 2016. Thereafter; the MHRD has formulated 'Some inputs for the Draft National Education Policy, 2016' and uploaded on its website in which policy initiatives has been  incorporated: Further, commentslsuggestions were invited from all Government of India Ministries, State Governments, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders upto 30th September; 2016. An 'Education Dialogue' was also organized with the Hon'ble MPs to discuss the suggestions and to.elicit their views. A committee under an eminent educationist will be appointed to prepare final draft NEP . they long May,

At this stage, NEP is currently under formulation and directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court relating to adoption of specific contents in school curriculum o and alcoholism under the NEP will be duly considered: drugs

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## Annexure (as referred in parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1858 dated 14.03.2017)

|    | Programme                                                                                                                                                                                                   |   No. of Programmes |   No. of Beneficiaries (approx:) |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|----------------------------------|
|    | Awareness/Sensitization Programme for School/Collegel University Students & NSS Volunteers                                                                                                                  |                 152 |                            11400 |
| 2  | Capacity Building Programme for School Teachers on Abuse Preventjon Drug                                                                                                                                    |                  26 |                              820 |
|    | Capacity Building Programme for functionaries of de- addiction  centres  supported by the Ministry which; inter alia, includes  spreading awareness about ill effects of drug abuse in their community drug |                  20 |                              520 |
|    | Total                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                 198 |                            12740 |