Lok Sabha Question No. 2668 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Survey on Drug Abuse
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2668 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2015

## 2668. SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE

## KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government has conducted any Advanced Pilot Survey on the extent, pattern and  trends  of  Drug  Abuse  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State-wise  including Maharashtra, Manipur and Punjab;
- (b)  the  name  of  organizations  entrusted  the  task  and  the  likely  time  for  submission  of  survey report;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  carry  out  survey  for  street  children  and homeless and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Ministry proposes to conduct a more comprehensive and extended Pilot Survey to cover some more States and if so, the details thereof, Statewise; and
- (e)  whether  the  National  Statistical  Commission  (NSC)  has  observed  that  the  proposed Advanced Pilot Survey may not serve the purpose as the present methodology and the sampling design is not likely to give accurate result and if so, the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

- (a)  &  (b):  The  Ministry  has  requested  National  Sample  Survey  Office  (NSSO)  to  conduct  a nationwide  survey  on  extent,  pattern  and  trend  of  alcohol  and  drug  abuse.  Accordingly,  the NSSO had conducted a pilot survey in the cities of Amritsar, Imphal and Mumbai in MarchApril  2010.  The  report  of  the  Pilot  survey  was  received  from  NSSO  on  05.1.2011.  On examination of the report of the Pilot Survey, certain issues relating to under estimation, noncoverage of certain age groups etc.
- (c):  There  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  in  the  Ministry  to  carry  out  survey  for  street children  and  homeless.  However,  the  Ministry  has  financially  supported  the  Directorate  of Prohibition and Drug Abuse Prevention, Department of Women & Child Development, Govt. of NCT of Delhi for conducting a survey on mapping and size estimation of street children who use drugs in Delhi.
- (d)  &  (e):  The  National  Statistical  Commission  (NSC)  in  its  meeting  held  on  6.9.2013  has observed that no purpose would be served by conducting the proposed Advanced Pilot Survey and suggested that the methodology and the sampling design may be looked afresh. Therefore, a Working Group was constituted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, with NSSO as nodal organization to devise the modalities of advanced pilot survey in the State of  Punjab  and  Manipur.  The  report  of  the  Working  Group  has  been  received.  However,  the Ministry of Statistics and programme Implementation has informed that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment can conduct the survey through the help of NGOs on the pattern of earlier pilot survey done in the year 2010. The NSSO would provide all the necessary support if required.

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