Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT)
(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question *135 for answer on 26.07.2016 by Shrimati Vasanthi M. and SHRI B.N. Chandrappa on Drug Abuse
(a) & (b) There is no authentic data available in this regard. The last National Survey on the extent, pattern and trend of drug abuse was conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the year 2000-2001 and its report was published in 2004. It was estimated that about 732 lakh persons in India were users of alcohol and drugs. Of these 87 lakh used Cannabis, 20 lakh used opiates and 625 lakh were users of Alcohol. However, the sample size being small (40,697 males within the age group of 12-60 years both in rural and urban areas) vis-à-vis the country’s population, the estimates can at best be taken as indicative only. Thereafter, no National Survey on drug abuse has been conducted. The Ministry has recently assigned the work of conducting National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use to National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi.
However, in the context of increasing substance abuse and drug addiction among all sections of children in India, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) set up a Working Group in July, 2011. Based on the recommendations of above referred Working Group, NCPCR commissioned a study on “Assessment of pattern, profile and correlates of Substance Use among Children in India”, conducted by National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the year 2012-13, covering 135 cities/towns across 27 States and 2 UTs with a sample size of 4024 substance-using children, out of which 878 were street children.
a) More than 50%children living on the streets reported bad or very bad relationship or no relationship with the family;
b) Tobacco and alcohol were the most common substances used by children, followed by cannabis and other inhalants, pharmaceutical opioids, sedatives, heroin and opium;
c) The percentage of inhalant users (lifetime, last one year and last one month) was higher in the children living on the street than in children living at home;
d) The lifetime and last one year use of opium was higher in the children living on the street than in children living at home.
The Ministry has financially supported the proposal of Directorate of Prohibition and Drug Abuse Prevention, Department of Women and Child Development of NCT of Delhi for conducting the survey in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi on mapping and size estimation of street children who use drugs in Delhi.
(c) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment conducts following awareness generation programmes against Drug abuse:
1.1 The Ministry conducts campaign through print, electronic and social media for creating awareness. Information regarding ill-effects of alcoholism and drug abuse is also disseminated in regional languages through the All India Radio programme “Sanwarti Jayen Jeevan Ki Rahen” and also through advertisements in newspapers.
1.2 The Ministry celebrates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th June every year by holding functions and organizing exhibitions to sensitize the people about the ill effects of drug abuse. National Awards are also conferred to individuals and institutions in order to recognise the efforts and encourage excellence in the field of prevention of drug abuse.
1.3 Ministry has set up a National Toll Free drug de-addiction helpline Number 1800-11-0031 w.e.f. 07.01.2015 to help the victims of Drug abuse, their family and society at large.
1.4 National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an Autonomous body under the Ministry organizes sensitization programme in Schools and Colleges and skill development programmes for its target group in collaboration with Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) and other collaborating partners. NISD also participates in various fairs like India International Trade Fair, Shilpostav at Delhi Haat etc. by placing stalls for dissemination of information on drug abuse.
1.5 The Ministry undertakes awareness and outreach programmes involving organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS) etc. The Ministry, in the year 2011-12, had conducted an awareness generation programme in two states namely Punjab and Manipur which covered 3000 villages in ten districts of Punjab and 750 villages in seven districts of Manipur through the NYKS. The Ministry has again assigned a project to NYKS, in October 2014, for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation Programme in the remaining11 districts of Punjab and also for sustaining the pilot project of Awareness and Education for prevention of Drugs and Alcoholism in 10 districts.
1.6 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 youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse at schools in 22 districts of Punjab w.e.f. July, 2016.
1.7 The Ministry organized two Regional Workshops during the year 2015-16 in collaboration with NSS at Shillong and Indore to sensitize NSS Co-ordinators. Participants from the North Eastern States, Odisha and West Bengal attended the Workshop at Shillong and from Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Rajasthan at Indore. The Programmes were also attended by a large number of students and youth.
2. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that they take following measures to prevent abuse of Narcotic Drugs and psychotropic substances in the country:
2.1 Visit of NCB representative to Schools for conducting Awareness programmes: Organizing/conducting awareness programmes in Schools/colleges in different parts of India making the vulnerable classes of society aware of the abuse of narcotic drugs and its ill effects.
2.2 Display Boards in Pubs and Bars and Airports have been installed/are being installed to spread awareness about the punishment provided in law for drug trafficking and its abuse.
2.3 Display Boards in School Buses: To spread awareness among the children about the abuse of drugs.
2.4 Display Boards in Delhi Metro.
2.5 Drug Awareness Programme: Power Point Presentation compiling information on drug abuse and its health and economic costs useful for teachers, students and parents sent to all District Magistrates/Collectors of the Country to conduct awareness programmes in the schools/colleges falling in their jurisdiction.
2.6 Drug Awareness Display on NCB Facebook Page: To inform the public about the ill effects of drug abuse and drug trafficking.
2.7 Celebration of 26th June every year as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: NCB organizes International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th June every year in all field units of NCB to spread awareness among the general public about the ill effects of drug abuse and drug trafficking.
2.8 Rallies, Dramas are conducted regularly in association with Non Government Organizations to spread awareness programmes all over the country.
2.9 SMS alerts of Drug Awareness are flashed through mobile service providers on special occasions.
2.10 Organization of Workshops and Seminars in coordination with various Govt. agencies and NGOs in the country about ill effects of drug abuse and trafficking.
2.11 NCB assess and analyse existing and emerging challenges, trends and operational capabilities to make appropriate interventions and advise the Central Government.
(d) Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act, 1985 was framed taking into account India''s obligation under the three UN Drug Conventions viz. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 as well as Article 47 of the Constitution of India. This Act prohibits, except for medical or scientific purposes, the manufacture, production, trade, use, etc. of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The Act provides for stringent penalties/ rigorous provisions for consumptions as well as for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Both Central and State Governments have been empowered to enforce the provisions of the Act. These enforcement agencies have adopted various measures, including, inter alia, (i) intensive preventive and interdiction efforts along known drug routes, (ii) strict surveillance and enforcement at entry/exit points of the border, (iii) strengthening of the intelligence system, and (iv) bilateral/multilateral cooperation with other countries for sharing of information on illicit trafficking.
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