Question : Drug and Substance Abuse

(a) whether cases of drug addicted children indulging in theft and other criminal activities have come to the notice of the Government in the country particularly at Anushakti Nagar Township in Mumbai during each of the last three years and the current year;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise and the reasons therefor;

(c) the number of complaints/ suggestions received by the Government from various quarters to eradicate the menace of drug and substance abuse in the country particularly at Anushakti Nagar Township in Mumbai during the said period, State/UT-wise;

(d) the present status of such complaints/suggestions; and

(e) the preventive steps taken/ being taken by the Government to protect children from drug and substance abuse and indulging in criminal activities across the country particularly at Anushakti Nagar Township in Mumbai?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) & (b) As per information provided by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-VI, Mumbai, no such case has been reported in the last three years. As per information provided by the National Crime Records Bureau, data on drug addicted children indulging in theft and other criminal activities is not available separately.

(c) & (d) No such suggestion has been received in the Department to eradicate the menace of drug abuse in Anushakti Nagar Township, Mumbai during the said period. However, suggestions to eradicate the menace of drug abuse are received in the Department from time to time which are noted.
(e) The Ministry has issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories on 11.8.2016 for taking coordinated action to address the problem of drug abuse which, inter-alia, includes prevention of substance abuse among children in the country.

In addition, the Ministry implements a "Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse" which provides financial assistance to eligible Non-Governmental Organizations, Panchayati Raj Institution, Urban Local Bodies, etc. for running Integrated Rehabilitation Centres of Addicts to provide composite/integrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts including child users.

The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, in association with collaborating agencies, has been conducting awareness and capacity building programmes in schools, colleges, universities and community on ill effects of alcoholism and substance (drug) abuse as a measure of preventive step. The details of the programmes being organized by the NISD during the year 2016-17 are placed at Annexure.

As per available information from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) has come into effect from 15.01.2016 repealing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. In the said Act, a separate chapter (Chapter IX) has been added in which stringent penalty has been imposed on whoever gives intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug or psychotropic substance to a child.

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