The Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Thawaarchand Gehlot in the presence of Ministers of State, Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar, Shri Ramdas Athawale & Shri Ratan Lal Kataria launched the website for the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan(NMBA) on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking today. The Day is observed worldwide to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving the goal of a sustainable world free of substance abuse. The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, which is the nodal ministry for Drug Demand Reduction, implements various programmes for the drug abuse prevention across the country.
This year, to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organized a 6-day Nasha Mukt Bharat Summit which ended with the re-launch of several initiatives undertaken by the Ministry for the prevention of Drug Abuse.
Secretary, Social Justice & Empowerment, Mr. R. Subrahmanyam gave the introductory remarks at the program and the address was given by the Additional Secretary, Ms. Upma Srivastava. Joint Secretary, Ms. Radhika Chakravarthy explained details about the NMBA and conducted the programme.
Addressing the program today, SJ&E Minister Shri Thawaarchand Gehlot said that on the special occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, we have come together to strengthen our determination against drug abuse in any form and to send a message to the world that India will leave no stone unturned to fight against this evil. It also reaffirms our commitment to achieve social goals, initiatives to end drug abuse and strengthen community-centric approaches and outcomes. Sh Gehlot expressed the resolve that India is committed to root out the menace of drug abuse at any cost.
Shri Gehlot stated that according to the National Comprehensive Survey conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, there are more than 60 million drug users in the country of which a large number of users are in the age group of 10-17 years.
The Minister explained that the Ministry is the nodal Ministry for drug demand reduction. This Ministry has taken several steps to address the issues related to the use of drugs and their effects. There are more than 500 voluntary organizations across the country, which are assisted financially under the NAPDDR scheme of the Ministry, he disclosed. These NGOs have been actively involved in the implementation of the drug-free India campaign. Volunteers and outreach workers of these institutions/organizations have gone from door to door, village to village and nearby localities, etc. to educate the people about the ill effects of drug abuse and have assisted the rehabilitation of victims of substance abuse. The activities of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, despite the situation arising out of COVID-19 in the country, have continued in full force, Shri Gehlot explained. The Minister urged that the common man must become a part of Nasha Mukt Bharat’s campaign since evil can be eradicated from society only with people’s participation.
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