Lok Sabha Question No. 2206 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Drug abuse among Street Children
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2206 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2018

## DRUG ABUSE AMONG STREET CHILDREN

## 2206. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that & third of the street kids use drugs in Delhi according to the AIIMS National Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC); Drug
- (b) if so, the number of street children drugs during the last one year in the form of tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, cannabis, heroin, opium, etc. in Delhi; using
- (c) the number of children who died due to the use of these substanceldrugs in the country the last two years, State-wise; and during
- (d the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to an end to substanceldrug abuse among children in the country? put

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): The Government of NCT Delhi's survey on mapping and estimation of street children who use drugs in Delhi was financed by this Ministry. The survey was conducted by AIIMS the year 2015 and as per findings of the report; it was estimated that 22.1 % of all street children of NCT of Delhi have used some substance excluding tobacco in the last one year: The estimate number of children who have used various substances in last one year are tobacco- 21770, alcohol- 9450, inhalants- 7910. cannabis5600, heroin-840, 420. pharmaceutical opioids-210 sedatives- 210 street children and injecting use-210. during drug opium-
- (c): National Crime Records Bureau have informed that a total of 53 and 34 unnatural accidental deaths were reported due to overdose (including Medicinal/ Narcotics & Psychotropic Drugs) by the children below 18 years 2015 and 2016* respectively. State/UT-wise details   during 2015-2016* is enclosed as annexure. [*Data for the year 2016 is provisional]. drug during
- (d): The Ministry has issued an advisory to all States and Union  Territories on 11.8.2016 for taking coordinated action to address the problem of abuse which, inter-alia, includes prevention of substance abuse among children in the country such as:drug
- i) Conducting Sensitization and Preventive education programmes in schools and colleges throughout the year.
- ii)  Establishing   separate and   specialized de-addiction treatment centres/facilities for   drug   dependent children, especially in Government Hospitals/Medical colleges.
- Providing treatment facilities for those in the Juvenile Justice Systems including Juvenile Homes and Children Homes. jii)
- Providing appropriate facilities for children including street children. iv)
- Creating awareness generation through Youth organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra, National Service Scheme (NSS) and through print, electronic and social media.

The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) an autonomous organization under this Ministry, and  colleges on basis. During the year 2017-18, NISD has conducted 247 awareness generation programmes in various Schools and Universities/Colleges covering 23006 beneficiaries. regular

In addition, the Ministry implements a 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 (IRCAs) to provide compositelintegrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts including child users.

Ministry of Women and Child Development have informed that have recently enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act; 2015 which has come into effect from 15.01.2016. As per Section 2 (14) (ix) of Juvenile Justice Act who is found vulnerable and is likely to be inducted into abuse or trafficking is included as a child in need of care and protection: they drug

Under Section 77 whoever gives; Or causes to be given; to any child any intoxicating liquor Or any narcotic or tobacco products or psychotropic   substance, except on the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner; shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees. Under Section 78 whoever uses a or smuggling any intoxicating liquor, narcotic or psychotropic substance. shall be liable for rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine up to one lakh rupees drug drug

Under Section 93 (1) Where it appears to the Committee Or the Board that any child kept in a special home Or an observation home Or a Children' $ Home or in an institution in pursuance of the provisions of this Act is a mentally ill person or addicted to alcohol or other drugs which lead to behavioural changes in & person, the Committee or the Board may order removal of such child to a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home in accordance   with the   provisions of the Mental Health   Act, 1987 or thereunder: Section 93 (2) In case the child had been removed to a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric the certificate of discharge of the psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home, order to remove such child to an   Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts or similar centres maintained by the State Government for mentally ill persons (including the persons addicted to any narcotic or psychotropic substance) and such removal shall be only for the required for the inpatient treatment of such child. drug period

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## ANNEXURE [as referred in part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2206 for answer on 31.07.2018]

## State/UT-wise number of accidental deaths due to Overdose (below 18 years of age) during 2015-2016 (year 2016 data is provisional) Drug

|    | State/UT          | 2015   | 2016   |
|----|-------------------|--------|--------|
|    | Andhra Pradesh    |        |        |
| 2  | Arunachal Pradesh |        |        |
| 3  | Assam             | 0      |        |
| 4  | Bihar             |        |        |
| 5  | Chhattisgarh_     |        |        |
| 6  | Goa               |        |        |
| 7  | Gujarat           |        |        |
| 8  |                   |        |        |
|    | Pradesh           |        |        |
| 10 | Jammu & Kashmir   |        |        |
| 11 | Jharkhand         |        |        |
| 12 | Karnataka         | 4      | 2      |
| 13 | Kerala            |        | 0      |
| 14 | Madhya Pradesh    |        | 6      |
|    | Maharashtra       |        | 2      |
| 16 | Manipur           |        |        |
| 17 | Meghalaya         |        |        |
| 18 | Nigoland          |        |        |
| 20 | Odisha            |        |        |
| 21 | Punjab            | 13     | 5      |
| 22 | Rajasthan         |        | 2      |
| 23 | Sikkim            |        | 0      |
|    | Tamil Nadu        |        |        |
| 25 | Telangana         |        |        |
| 26 |                   |        | 10     |
| 28 | Uttarakhand       |        | 0      |
| 29 | West Bengal       |        |        |
|    | Total (States     | 52     | 34     |
| 30 | A & N Islands     |        |        |
| 31 | Chandig garh      |        |        |
| 32 | D&N Haveli        |        |        |
| 33 | Daman & Diu       |        |        |
| 34 | Delhi UT          |        |        |
| 35 | Lakshadweep       |        |        |
| 36 | Puducherry        |        |        |
|    | Total (UTs)       | 1      |        |
|    | Total (AII India) | 53     | 34     |