The Government of India is strengthening grassroots efforts to combat drug abuse under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) by promoting greater participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions in awareness generation and community mobilisation. The initiative aims to build a people-led movement against substance abuse by engaging local communities and volunteers at the village level.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma, in a written reply to Shri Harsh Mahajan in the Rajya Sabha today.

The Minister informed that while no separate scheme has been formulated for convergence of Panchayati Raj Institutions with the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) specifically for village-level drug awareness, all Panchayati Raj Departments of States and Union Territories, including Himachal Pradesh, have been requested under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to identify and engage Panchayat Resource Persons as Nasha Mukti Mitras (NMMs).

These Nasha Mukti Mitras have been entrusted with promoting the NMBA Mass Pledge against drug abuse through both online and offline campaigns. They are also being integrated into existing awareness drives and are promoting the use of the NMBA logo, mascot and the National De-addiction Helpline 14446 to strengthen outreach at the grassroots level.

The Minister further informed that under the State Action Plan (SAP) component of the NAPDDR Scheme, financial assistance is provided to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for preventive education, awareness generation, capacity building and drug demand reduction activities. During the last two financial years, no funds were released to Himachal Pradesh in 2023–24 and 2024–25. However, ₹1.34 crore was released to the State during 2025–26 to support activities under the State Action Plan.

The Government continues to strengthen the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan through active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions, community volunteers, educational institutions and civil society organisations to create sustained awareness against drug abuse and realise the vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat.

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