Lok Sabha Question No. 3693 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-09
Subject: Panel on Drug Abuse
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3693 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2016

## 3693. PANEL ON DRUG ABUSE

## SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA

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

(a) whether the Union Government along with State Governments have formed a to suggest ways to tackle the menace and expand de-addiction facilities in the country and if so, the details thereof; panel drug

(6) whether the panel has been asked to reach out to vulnerable groups such as street children found in and around Connaught Place and Nizamuddin among other areas and suggest ways to rehabilitate them and if so, the details and present status in this regard;

- c) whether the Panel has also charted ways on expanding medical facilities for addicts in terms of outpatient as well as inpatient departments in hospitals and health care centres, if so, the details thereof and the results yielded so far; and
- d) whether the panel also focuses on sensitising teachers across schools to nip the menace in the bud, if So, the details thereof and steps taken in this regard along with the results yielded SO far?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) The Ministry had constituted a National Consultative Committee on De-addiction and Rehabilitation (NCCDR), in 2008,to advise the Central and State Governments on issues connected with demand reduction,  especially education/awareness   building; deaddiction and rehabilitation: The Committee is chaired by the Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice Empowerment and, inter-alia, includes Secretaries of different Ministries/Departments, representatives of State Governments and Union Territories. drug

The functions of NCCDR are to advise Central and State Governments on the entire gamut of issues related to prevention; de-addiction, rehabilitation and harm reduction, with special reference to the following:

- ii. Education, awareness building and community mobilization.
2. Policies, programmes and legislation measures for persons affected by andlor vulnerable to alcoholism and abuse. drug
3. iii, Measures to facilitate physical and social rehabilitation of drug and alcohol abuse.

To create awareness and ofalcoholism  and substance   (drugs) abuse, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been implementing a Scheme of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse  since

- iv Feedback on implementation of the national programme on and alcohol demand reduction, and ways to improve their effectiveness drug

1985-86. Under this scheme; financial assistance up to 90% of the approved expenditure is given to Voluntary Organizations and other   eligible   agencies for   setting uplrunning Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs) In the case of North-Eastern States, Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir; the quantum of assistance is 95% of the total admissible expenditure.

The main  objective of the Scheme is to alleviate the consequences of and alcohol dependence amongst the individual, the family and society at and to provide for the whole range of community based services for the identification, motivation, counselling; de-addiction, after care and rehabilitation for Whole Person Recovery (WPR) of addicts to make a person free, crime free and gainfully employed. drug large drug

Approximately one lakh victims of abuse are benefitted every under this Scheme. Besides, the Ministry conducts following awareness generation programmes against abuse: drug year Drug

- i) Sensitization and preventive education programmes in collaboration with National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) in schools and colleges on regular basis.
2. ii; Awareness and outreach programmes involving organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) National Service Scheme (NSS) etc. An awareness generation programme in the State of Punjab to NYKS in October 2014.The Ministry organized two Regional Workshops during 2015-16 in collaboration with NSS at Shillong and Indore to sensitize students. The Coordinators of NSS from all the North Eastern States, Odisha and West Bengal attended the Workshop at Shillong and NSS Coordinators from   Madhya Pradesh; Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan attended the Workshop at Indore: The Programme was also attended by a large number of students. year
3. iii) The Ministry has   assigned an awareness generation   programme to   Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) to create awareness in children and about the harmful effects of' substance abuse at schools in 22 districts of Punjab w.e.f July, 2016. youth
4. iv) The   Ministry also uses print, electronic and social media for   creating awareness. Information regarding ill-effects of alcoholism and abuse is also disseminated in regional languages through the Rahen and also through advertisements in newspapers. drug
5. The Ministry celebrates the International against Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th June every year by holding funetions and organizing exhibitions to sensitize the people about the ill effects abuse. National Awards are also conferred to individuals and institutions in order to recognize the effoits and encourage excellence in the field of prevention of substance abuse. Day Drug
6. vi) Ministry has set up a National Toll Free de-addiction helpline Number 1800-11 abuse, their family and society at drug large . Drug