Lok Sabha Question No. 492 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Smuggling of Drugs
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 492

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024/ MAGHA 17, 1945 (SAKA)

SMUGGLING OF DRUGS

†492.      SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  made  any  collaborative  effort  with  the neighbouring countries to check the smuggling of drugs;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the action-plan formulated by the Government to prevent the increase in drug abuse among the youth?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a)  &  (b)  The  Government  is  making  various  efforts  jointly  with  the neighbouring  countries  to  check  smuggling  of  Narcotics  drugs.  Some  of them are detailed below: -

 Signing  of  Bilateral  Agreements  with  Afghanistan,  Myanmar,  China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as Memoranda of Understanding with Bhutan,  Pakistan,  Myanmar  and  Nepal  on  drug  related  matter/security co-operation  for  combating  illicit  trafficking  of  Narcotics  Drugs  & Psychotropic  Substance  (NDPS)  and  Chemical  Precursors  as  well  as related offences.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 492 FOR 06.02.2024

-  Intelligence  Sharing  and  Controlled  Delivery  Operation  (CD)  are  being carried  out  with  neighbouring  countries.  During  last  three  years,  India has  carried  out  CD  Operations  with  Pakistan  and  Afghanistan  on  one occasion each.
-  Director  General  Level  Talk  has  been  organized  with  neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, etc, to resolve various issues on drugs having international implications.
-  Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India and Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), Myanmar is regularly holding FLO (Field Level Officer) Meetings at the International Border to discuss and resolve drug related issues pertaining to both countries.
- (c) To address the problem of Drug Abuse, Government has formulated and  implemented  the  National  Action  Plan  for  Drug  Demand  Reduction (NAPDDR)  under which the Government  is taking a sustained and coordinated  action  for  arresting  the  problem  of  substance  abuse  among the youth. This includes:
- a. Launching  of  Nasha  Mukt  Bharat  Abhiyaan  (NMBA)  in  272  most vulnerable districts, later on extended to all districts of the country under  which a massive  community  outreach  is  being done through

more than 8000 youth volunteers. So far NMBA has reached out to more-than  10.73  crore  people  including  3.39  crore  youth  and  2.27 crore women.

- b. 342 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs) are supported by the Government. These IRCAs not only provide treatment for the drug victims, but also give services of preventive education, awareness generation, motivational counseling, detoxification/de-addiction,  after  care  and  re-integration  into  the social mainstream. Government also provided support to special deaddiction center for women and children.
- c. 47 Community  based  Peer  led  Intervention  (CPLI)  Centers  are supported by the Government. These CPLIs focus on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents. Under this, peer educators engage children for awareness generation and life skill activities.
- d. 74  Outreach  and  Drop  In  Centers  (ODICs)  are  supported  by  the Government.  These ODICs  provide safe and secure space for treatment  and  rehabilitation  for  substance  users,  with  provision  of screening, assessment and counseling and thereafter provide referral and linkage for  treatment  and  rehabilitation  services  for  substance dependence.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 492 FOR 06.02.2024

- e. Government also supports setting up of Addiction Treatment Facilities  (ATFs)  in  some  Government  hospitals,  which  is  being implemented through All India Institute of Medical science (AIIMS), New  Delhi.  So  far,  66  ATFs  have  been  established  in  Government hospital across the country.
- f. 53  District  De-addiction  Centres  (DDACs)  which  provides  all  three facilities provided by IRCA, ODIC and CPLI under one roof have been set up so far.
- g. A  Toll-free  Helpline  for  de-addiction,  14446  is  being  maintained  by the  Government  for  providing  primary  counseling  and  immediate assistance to persons seeking help.
- h. Government through its autonomous body National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Counsel of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan  etc. provides for  regular  awareness  generation  and sensitization sessions for all stakeholders including students, teachers, parents.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 492 FOR 06.02.2024

- i. Navchetna Modules, teachers training modules have been developed by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) for sensitizing students (6 th -11 th standard), teachers and parents on drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.
- j. There has been a 37% increase in people seeking counselling and deaddiction  services  from  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  &  Empowerment (MoSJE) supported centres since the launch of Abhiyan in 2022.

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