Anti-Narcotics scheme extended for 3 years to combat trafficking of drugs

New Delhi, February 15: In an attempt to curb the consumption of drugs, the officials had started a scheme for anti-narcotics. The government has extended the anti-narcotics scheme for 3 more years to combat illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substance.

The purpose of the scheme is to assist states and Union Territories, which are contributing in controlling the inter-state and cross-border drug trafficking.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier notified that the assistance for narcotics control has been extended, with an estimated budget of 21 crore rupees. According to the latest assessments, there are approximately 40 lakh drug addicts in the country. The most common drugs of abuse are ganja, hashish, opium and heroin.

Financial assistance is also proposed to be provided for all capacity building activities, including training of personnel. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) being the national nodal agency for drug administration has been processing the requests from state governments and UTs for financial assistance for improving their enforcement capabilities in dealing with the supply side of the drug menace.

In certain regions of the country, drug abuse has already become a severe social-economic problem affecting the vulnerable age groups. It is, therefore, essential that the state governments and UTs are aware of the drug-related problems in their states and UTs and address them in an effective manner before they assume epidemic proportions.

The strategies would include both supply reduction and demand reduction. Supply reduction would include enforcement activities while demand reduction would involve rehabilitation and de-addiction measures.

The scheme was launched on October 24, 2004 for a period of five years but was later extended to two years. However this extended period will enable the authorities to make new stringent activities which will help reduce the consumption of drug menace among the youth.