SRINAGAR: According to a report from the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment titled “Drug abuse among young persons: Problems and solutions,” the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India has provided approximately Rs 4 crore in funds for counseling and de-addiction of drug abusers in J&K under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
Around 2,000 individuals have benefited from these funds in the last three years, as per the parliament panel’s findings.
The report reveals that the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India is allocating funds for various initiatives, including identification, motivation, counseling, de-addiction, aftercare, and rehabilitation of drug users. During the financial years 2020-21, 2021-2022, and 2022-23, Rs 0.84 crore, Rs 0.46 crore, and Rs 2.37 crore, respectively, were released to NGOs/VOs in J&K.
The report further provides statistics on the number of beneficiaries. From 2019 to 2021, approximately 200 persons were assisted under NAPDDR in Jammu and Kashmir, with specific figures for each year being 179 in 2018-19, 247 in 2019-2020, and 1509 in 2020-2021.
Regarding the establishment of District De-addiction Centres, the Department has informed the Standing Committee that it is actively working on this matter in consultation with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Standing Committee emphasises the need for coordination among all concerned agencies in Jammu and Kashmir to effectively control drug trafficking, production, and distribution.
The report highlights that approximately 13.5 lakh people in Jammu & Kashmir consume drugs, with over 5 lakh addicts using opioids. The statistics in the report further break down the number of minor and adult drug abusers and their usage patterns.
The parliamentary committee’s report mentions that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment commissioned a comprehensive survey in 2018 by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) AIIMS. Based on the survey’s findings, a comprehensive Scheme, National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), was formulated for 2018-25 to address the drug menace in the country. (KNO)
