Lok Sabha Question No. 3756 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Awareness on Drug Addiction
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  †3756

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015

## †3756. AWARENESS ON DRUG ADDICTION

## SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

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

(a) the progress made by the Government in creating awareness among youth towards drugs addiction;

- (b)  whether  any  efforts  are  being  made  by  the  Government  to  keep  youth  away  from  evils  of  drugs addiction by involving their parents and teachers; and
- (c) the steps being taken to curb the sale of drugs to the youths in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a)&(b) The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment conducts the following awareness generation programmes towards Drug addiction including youth:

- 1.1    The Ministry conducts campaign through 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 news papers.
- 1.2      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 recognise the efforts and encourage excellence in the field of prevention of drug abuse.
- 1.3         Ministry has set up a National Toll Free drug de-addiction helpline Number 1800-11-0031 w.e.f. 07.01.2015 to help the victims of Drug abuse, their family and society at large.
- 1.4 The  Ministry  undertakes  awareness  and  outreach  programmes  involving  organizations  like  Nehru  Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS) etc. The Ministry, in the year 2011-12, had conducted an awareness generation programme in two states namely Punjab and Manipur which covered 3000 villages in ten districts  of  Punjab  and  750  villages  in  seven  districts  of  Manipur  through  the  NYKS.  The  Ministry  has  again assigned a project to NYKS, in October 2014, for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation Programme in the  remaining  11  districts  of  Punjab  and  also  for  sustaining  the  pilot  project  of  Awareness  and  Education  for prevention of Drugs and Alcoholism in 10 districts.
- 1.5 The Ministry  organized  two  Regional  Workshops  during  the  year  2015-16  in  collaboration  with  NSS  at Shillong and Indore to sensitize NSS Co-ordinators. Participants from the North Eastern States, Odisha and West Bengal attended  the  Workshop  at  Shillong  and  from  Madhya  Pradesh,  Chhatisgarh  and  Rajasthan  at  Indore.  The Programmes were also attended by a large number of students and youth.
- 1.6       National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an Autonomous body under the Ministry organizes sensitization programme in schools  and  colleges  and  skill  development  programmes  for  its  target  group  in  collaboration  with Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) and other collaborating partners.
- 1.7   NISD participates in various fairs like India International Trade Fair, Shilpostav at Delhi Haat etc. by placing stalls for dissemination of information on drug abuse.
2. The  Narcotics  Control  Bureau  (NCB)  under  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  have  informed  that  they  take following measures to prevent abuse of Narcotic Drugs and psychotropic substances in the country:
- 2.1 Visit  of  NCB  representative  to  Schools  for  conducting  Awareness  programmes:  Organizing/conducting awareness programmes in Schools/colleges in different parts of India making the vulnerable classes of society aware of the abuse of narcotic drugs and its ill effects.
- 2.2 Display Boards in Pubs and Bars and Airports have been installed/are being installed to spread awareness about the punishment provided in law for drug trafficking and its abuse.
- 2.3 Distribution  of  CDs  to  all  District  Magistrate  of  India:  NCB  has  distributed  CDs  containing  presentation regarding ill effects of drug abuse among the youth in the country to create awareness among the children.
- 2.4 Display Boards in School Buses: To spread awareness among the children about the abuse of drugs.
- 2.5 Display Boards in Delhi Metro.
- 2.6 Drug Awareness Programme: Power Point Presentation compiling information on drug abuse and its health and economic costs useful for teachers, students and parents sent to all District Magistrates/Collectors of the Country to conduct awareness programmes in the schools/colleges falling in their jurisdiction.
- 2.7 Drug Awareness Display on NCB Facebook Page: To inform the public about the ill effects of drug abuse and drug trafficking.
- 2.8 Celebration  of  26 th   June  every  year  as  the  International  Day  against  Drug  Abuse  and  Illicit  Trafficking: NCB organizes International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 th  June every year in all field units of NCB to spread awareness among the general public about the ill effects of drug abuse and drug trafficking.
- 2.9 Rallies,  Dramas  are  conducted  regularly  in  association  with  Non  Government  Organizations  to  spread awareness programmes all over the country.
- 2.10 SMS alerts of Drug Awareness are flashed through mobile service providers on special occasions.
- 2.11 Organization of Workshops and seminars in coordination with various Governments agencies and NGOs in the country about ill effects of drug abuse and trafficking.
- 2.12 During the year 2014 and 2015 (up to Oct. 2015) Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) conducted 911 and 549 awareness programmes in various States/UTs in the country
- (c)       Department of Revenue has informed that Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 was framed taking  into  account  India's  obligation  under  the  three  UN  drug  Conventions  viz,  Single  Convention  on  Narcotic Drugs, 1961, Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 and the UN Convention against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance, 1988 as well as Article 47 of the Constitution of India. This Act prohibits, except for medical or scientific purposes, the manufacture, production, trade, use, etc of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.  The  Act  provides  for  stringent  penalties/rigorous  provisions  for  consumption  as  well  as  for  illicit trafficking  of  narcotic  drugs  and  psychotropic  substances.  Both  Central  and  State  Governments  have  been empowered to enforce the provisions of the Act. These enforcement agencies have adopted various measures, interalia, including (i) intensive preventive and interdiction efforts along known drug routes, (ii) strict surveillance and enforcement at entry/exit points of the border, (iii) strengthening of the intelligence system, and (iv) bilateral/multilateral cooperation with other countries for sharing of information on illicit trafficking.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have informed that there is mechanism for co-ordination between the NCB and the State Police Forces.

i) Financial assistance to different States/ UTs is given under the Scheme "Assistance to State and UTs" by NCB, MHA. The Scheme is to finance State Governments to strengthen their enforcement capabilities for combating illicit  traffic  in  Narcotics  Drugs  and  Psychotropic  Substances.  Assistance  is  provided  in  kind  for  the  following equipments :-

- A. Surveillance equipment;
- B. Laboratory equipment
- C. Vehicles for patrolling/surveillance
- D. Computers and their accessories
- E. Fax machine and photocopies and
- F. Training equipment & Aids
- G. Other equipments useful for enforcement
8. ii) The Drug Detection Kits are provided to all the Drug law enforcement agencies including State Police by NCB twice every year. Drug Detection kits are used for detection of various drugs by drug law enforcement officers. NCB  procures  and  provides  Drug  Detection  Kits  to  the  Drug  Law  Enforcement  agencies  across  the  country. Availability of a simple, correct and user friendly method for 'on the spot' testing of suspected materials even by non-technical officials is a key requirement for effective enforcement. Drug Detection Kits are of three types i.e. Narcotic Drugs Detection Kit, Precursor Chemicals Detection Kit and Ketamine Detection Kit along with testing methods and flow charts.
9. iii) Time to time, these trainings are organized by NCB for different drug law enforcement agencies including state police.
10. (a) Computer based training (CBT) The training is given on the following modules, namely Drug ID and Drug testing, Interdiction techniques for land controls, interdiction techniques at airports, interdiction techniques at sea ports, intelligence and control delivery, money laundering and human trafficking. The interactive nature of the modules facilitate enhances the retention capacity of the learners.
11. (b) Capsule Course on Drug lawsTraining is made comprehensive by the inclusion of all important topics relating to drug law administration & enforcement including NDPS Act & Rules, Financial investigation, PITNDPS, Precursor Control (RCS Order 1993), Money Laundering, Composite seizures and other linkages, Modus Operandi, National  Drug  Scenario,  Case  studies,  Court  judgments,  Identification  and  spot  testing  of  narcotic drugs, Concealment methods, Rummaging of vessels/ships in the sea for drugs and applicability of Customs & other Acts etc. in the training curriculum.
12. (iv) Co-ordination with State agencies and ADRIN for destruction of illicit cultivation of opium and cannabis annually.
13. (v) Regional  co-ordination  meetings  (RCM)  with  State  Police  and  other  drug  law  enforcement  agencies  on annual basis.
14. (vi) NCB officials participate in REIC meetings at the state Hqrs and at CEIB meeting in Delhi.
15. (vii) NCB  co-ordinates  intelligence  sharing  with  State  Police  and  other  drug  law  enforcement  agencies  like Intelligence Bureau, CBI etc.
16. (viii) NCB provides monetary rewards to officers of State Police and other drug law enforcement agencies.

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