Centre to strengthen Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to fight drug abuse

An official from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) will be strengthened to fight drug abuse. Under the campaign, 13,000 youth volunteers in 272 districts will be trained as community mobilisers against drug abuse.

New Delhi: The Union government has decided to strengthen its Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) under which it aims to train around 13,000 youth volunteers in 272 districts as community mobilisers against drug abuse.

"The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) will be further strengthened and be continued under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). Under this, 13,000 youth volunteers in 272 districts will be trained as community mobilisers against drug abuse," said an official in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The scheme aims to provide a strong mechanism in every district of the country by setting up District Drug De-Addiction Centre (DDAC), Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATF), in government hospitals and other focused interventions, an official added.

The budget estimate for FY 2021-22 under NAPDDR is Rs 260.00 crore: The amount has been sanctioned to benefit 11.80 lakh beneficiaries for FY 2021-22, according to the official statement.

On being asked about the criteria for selection of 272 districts, the official added that the data was taken out from — 'National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India' to get the concrete number of drug addicts and from the National Crime Records Bureau to know from where the supply of drugs is coming from.

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In each of the 272 districts, a minimum of 50 volunteers will be selected and trained as community mobilisers against drug abuse.

According to a report by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, more than 5.7 crore individuals are affected by harmful or dependent alcohol use and need help for their alcohol abuse. About 25 lakh suffer from cannabis dependence and approximately 77 lakh individuals need help for opioid abuse.