(a) whether a large number of persons belonging to tribal, hilly and rural areas are suffering from alcoholism;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the number of such addicts is on the rise;
(d) if so, the details thereof for the last three years;
(e) whether the Government has prepared/proposes to prepare any action plan to eliminate the
said vice from the society; and
(f) if so, the details of the said actionplan?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI D. NAPOLEON)
(a) to (d) There is no authentic data to conclusively indicate that there are a large number of
persons suffering from alcoholism in the country, including persons belonging to tribal, hilly
and rural areas.
(e) & (f) The Ministry is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of
Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse. The objectives of the Scheme for Prevention of
Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse are.
# To create awareness and educate people about the ill-effects of alcoholism and s
ubstance abuse on the individual, the family, the workplace and society at large.
# To provide for the whole range of community based services for the identification,
motivation, counselling, de-addiction, after care and rehabilitation of addicts.
# to alleviate the consequences of drug and alcohol dependence amongst the individual,
the family and society at large; and
# To facilitate research, training, documentation and collection of relevant information
to strengthen the above mentioned objectives.
On 26th June every year i.e. International Day against Illicit Trafficking and Drug
Abuse is observed and special campaign is undertaken to spread awareness.
The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) working under the Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment and the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), functioning
under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have also developed IEC-Health Education
materials on drugs and alcohol and how to prevent their use for public distribution.