The Government is making various efforts jointly with the neighbouring countries to check smuggling of Narcotics drugs. Some of them are detailed below: -

• Signing of Bilateral Agreements with Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as Memoranda of Understanding with Bhutan, Pakistan, Myanmar and Nepal on drug related matter/security co-operation for combating illicit trafficking of Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) and Chemical Precursors as well as related offences.

• Intelligence Sharing and Controlled Delivery Operation (CD) are being carried out with neighbouring countries. During last three years, India has carried out CD Operations with Pakistan and Afghanistan on one occasion each.

Ø Director General Level Talk has been organized with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, etc, to resolve various issues on drugs having international implications.

• Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India and Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), Myanmar is regularly holding FLO (Field Level Officer) Meetings at the International Border to discuss and resolve drug related issues pertaining to both countries.

    To address the problem of Drug Abuse, 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. This includes:

1. 1. Launching of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 most vulnerable districts, later on extended to all districts of the country under  which a massive  community  outreach  is  being done through more than 8000 youth volunteers. So far NMBA has reached out to more-than 10.73 crore people including 3.39 crore youth and 2.27 crore women.

1. 2. 342 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs) are supported by the Government. These IRCAs not only provide treatment for the drug victims, but also give services of preventive education, awareness generation, motivational counseling, detoxification/de-addiction, after care and re-integration into the social mainstream. Government also provided support to special de-addiction center for women and children.

1. 3. 47 Community based Peer led Intervention (CPLI) Centers are supported by the Government. These CPLIs focus on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents. Under this, peer educators engage children for awareness generation and life skill activities.

1. 4. 74 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs) are supported by the Government. These ODICs provide safe and secure space for treatment and rehabilitation for substance users, with provision of screening, assessment and counseling and thereafter provide referral and linkage for treatment and rehabilitation services for substance dependence.

1. 5. Government also supports setting up of Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in some Government hospitals, which is being implemented through All India Institute of Medical science (AIIMS), New Delhi. So far, 66 ATFs have been established in Government hospital across the country.

1. 6. 53 District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) which provides all three facilities provided by IRCA, ODIC and CPLI under one roof have been set up so far.

1. 7. 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.

1. 8. Government through its autonomous body National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Counsel of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan etc. provides for regular awareness generation and sensitization sessions for all stakeholders including students, teachers, parents.

1. 1. 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.

1. 10. There has been a 37% increase in people seeking counselling and de-addiction services from Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) supported centres since the launch of Abhiyan in 2022.

    This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

*****

RK/ASH/AKS/RR/PR/AK/492

(Release ID: 2003156) Visitor Counter : 718