Lok Sabha Question No. 2395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Drug Menace in Punjab
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Amrinder Singh Raja Warring

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2395

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  AUGUST, 2024/ SHRAVAN 15, 1946 (SAKA)

## DRUG MENACE IN PUNJAB

## 2395 SHRI AMRINDER SINGH RAJA WARRING:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  announced  in  2022  for  setting  up  of forensic lab and opening of NCB in Amritsar after affirming that the Centre stands 'shoulder to shoulder with Punjab to manage the drug crisis' that the  State  faces  and  the  status  and  development  with  regard  to  the announced promises;

(b) whether the Ministry got any assessment done to analyse the situation and extent of drug abuse in Punjab and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of arrests and cases registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act during the last five years; and

(d) whether any preventive as well constructive measures Government is undertaking or planning to undertake to stop the spread of drug abuse among youth in Punjab, including any special employment opportunities?

## ANSWER

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

a) The Zonal Unit of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at Amritsar has been made fully functional in  February, 2023. Subsequently, a  regional office of NCB for Northern Western Region headed by a Deputy Director General has been made functional in July, 2023 at Amritsar. As regard to

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2395 FOR 06.08.2024

the Forensic Laboratory, Government of India has provided Rs.7.98 crore to the State of Punjab for strengthening DNA analysis, cyber forensic and related facilities in State Forensic Science Laboratory. No proposal has been received from Government of Punjab for Mobile Forensic Vehicles and  machinery  and  equipment  for  State  Forensic  Science  Laboratory (SFSL) under the scheme of Modernization of Forensic Capacities.

- b) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) has conducted the comprehensive National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India through the National Drug Dependence and Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi during 2018. The report of the survey was released in February, 2019. As per the National Survey, the details of drugs abuse in Punjab are as under:

| Drug                         | Adult (Age 18-75)                            |
|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
|                              | Prevalence of Use (%) Estimated No. of Users |
| Cannabis                     | 14.23 30,68,000                              |
| Opioids                      | 9.91 21,36,000                               |
| Cocaine                      | 0.69 1,50,000                                |
| Amphetamines Type Stimulants | 0.63 1,36,000                                |

Source: MoSJ&E

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2395 FOR 06.08.2024

- c) As  per  latest  data  published  by  National  Crime  Records  Bureau (NCRB) pertaining to the year 2022, details of cases registered and arrest made  under  Narcotic  Drugs  and  Psychotropic  Substances  (NDPS)  Act, 1985 in the State of Punjab during 2018-2022 is as under: -
- d) The Government has taken various steps to prevent drug smuggling and Drug Demand Reduction, some of which are as under: -
3. (i) A  dedicated  Anti-Narcotics  Task  Force  (ANTF)  has  been established in the State.
4. (ii) Coordination  and  sharing  of  intelligence  in  real  time  with various Drug Law Enforcement Agencies.
5. (iii) To  monitor  the  investigation  of  important  and  significant seizures,  a  Joint  Coordination  Committee  (JCC)  under  the chairmanship of Director General, NCB has been set up.

|   SL |   Year |   Number of Cases registered |   Number | of   |
|------|--------|------------------------------|----------|------|
|    1 |   2018 |                        11654 |    14983 |      |
|    2 |   2019 |                        11536 |    16296 |      |
|    3 |   2020 |                         6909 |    11455 |      |
|    4 |   2021 |                         9972 |    14078 |      |
|    5 |   2022 |                        12442 |    17853 |      |

Source: Crime in India, 2022 NCRB

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## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2395 FOR 06.08.2024

- (iv) The Government has launched 1933- MANAS Helpline designed as  a  unified  platform  for  citizens  to  report the drug-related issues via multiple communication.
- (v) Border Guarding Forces including Border Security Force (BSF) have been empowered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 to carry out search, seizure  and  arrest  for  illicit  trafficking  of  narcotic  drugs  at international border. Further, Railway Protection Force (RPF) has  also  been  empowered  under  NDPS  Act  to  check  drug trafficking along the railway routes.
- (vi) Towards  the  capacity  building  of  drug  law  enforcement agencies of the state of Punjab, NCB is continuously imparting training to the officers of BSF and other drug law enforcement agencies.
- (vii) Detailed  vulnerability  mapping  has  been  carried  out  along India-Pakistan border to strengthen surveillance by deploying additional special surveillance equipment, vehicles, etc.
- (viii) Effective domination of the borders by carrying out round the clock surveillance of the border viz. patrolling, laying of Nakas,

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## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2395 FOR 06.08.2024

manning observation posts all along the International Border (IB).

- (ix) Installation of Border Flood lights along border security fence to light up the area during hours of darkness.
- (x) Use  of  Water  Craft/  Boats  and  floating  Border  Outposts  for domination of riverine area of International Border (IB).
- (xi) Strengthening of Intelligence  network and coordination  with sister agencies.
- (xii) Anti-Drone System (ADS) are installed at India-Pakistan border against the menace of rogue drones from counterpart.
- (xiii) 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  across  the  country  including  State  of  Punjab.  This includes:
- (a) Launching of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of Punjab. More than 5.5 lakh people in State of Punjab have been reached out including more than 75,000 Youth and 27,000 women under the Abhiyaan.

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## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2395 FOR 06.08.2024

- (b) 10 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in Government hospitals is being implemented through All India Institute of Medical science (AIIMS), New Delhi.
- (c) 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. (d) 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.
- (e) Awareness through official Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
- (f) NMBA Mobile Application developed to gather and collect the  data  of  NMBA  activities  and  represent  on  the  NMBA Dashboard at district, State and National level.
- (g) NMBA Website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides detailed information and insights to the user/viewer about the Abhiyaan,  an  online  discussion  forum,  NMBA  dashboard,  epledge.

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## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2395 FOR 06.08.2024

(h) MoUs  have  been  signed  with  spiritual/  social  service organisations like The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris & Sant Nirankari Mission, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, All World Gayatri Pariwar  and  ISKCON  to  support  NMBA  and  conduct  mass awareness activities.

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