Drug awareness campaign reaches over 1.20 crore people in J&K: GoI

New Delhi, Jul 28: More than 1.20 crore people, including 69.14 lakh youth and 51.20 lakh women, have been sensitised under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) in Jammu and Kashmir, while 8,565 Nasha Mukti Mitras have joined the campaign across the Union Territory.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha by Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, said the campaign is being implemented through awareness programmes, de-addiction services, rehabilitation and counselling facilities.
The ministry, said the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), under which financial assistance is provided to States and Union Territories, NGOs and Government hospitals for preventive education, awareness generation, capacity building, rehabilitation and treatment of persons affected by substance abuse.
It said the scheme supports 344 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), 45 Community-based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) programmes, 76 Outreach and Drop-In Centres (ODICs), 155 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in Government hospitals and 145 District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) across the country.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry said assistance is being provided to 1 IRCA, 3 ODICs, 2 CPLIs, 6 DDACs and 21 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs).
The ministry further informed that the 14446 toll-free de-addiction helpline is providing counselling and referral services, with over 4.6 lakh calls received across the country, including more than 11,000 calls from Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharing year-wise details, the Ministry said 18,939 awareness programmes were conducted during 2023-24, sensitising 1,00,02,860 people, while 35,639 drug users were treated and rehabilitated.
During 2024-25, 5,851 awareness programmes were organised, reaching 84,89,948 people, with 39,711 drug users treated and rehabilitated.
In 2025-26, 6,346 awareness programmes were conducted, covering 6,24,867 people, while 28,366 drug users received treatment and rehabilitation.
The ministry also informed Parliament that 3,072 drug traffickers were arrested in 2023, 2,158 in 2024, and 2,500 in 2025.
Regarding monitoring, the Ministry said the implementation of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is reviewed regularly through monthly review meetings, Chintan Shivirs and national-level conferences with States and Union Territories. State, district and block-level NMBA committees have been constituted to ensure coordinated implementation and regular review.
The ministry stated that the campaign has strengthened awareness generation, community participation, inter-departmental coordination and outreach for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of persons affected by substance abuse.
As per the reply, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched on 15 August 2020, initially covered 272 vulnerable districts and was extended to all districts of the country from August 2023, with a special focus on higher educational institutions, universities and schools.
The ministry said 21 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) have been established in Government hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir at GMC Anantnag, District Hospital Bandipora, GMC Baramulla, District Hospital Budgam, GMC & Hospital Doda, District Hospital Ganderbal, GMC Jammu, GMC Kathua, District Hospital Kishtwar, District Hospital Kulgam, District Hospital Kupwara, District Hospital Poonch, District Hospital Pulwama, District Hospital Ramban, Government Medical College & Hospital Rajouri, District Hospital Samba, District Hospital Shopian, the Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences at GMC Srinagar, SKIMS Srinagar, GMCH Udhampur and District Hospital Reasi.
The ministry further said 12 NGO-supported de-addiction centres are functional in the UT, including J&K Students Welfare Mission (DDAC) in Bandipora, Cultural Educational and Environmental Organization (DDAC) in Budgam, Himalaya Sewa Sang (CPLI) in Jammu, J&K Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses operating an IRCA and an ODIC in Jammu and a DDAC in Kulgam and Samba, National Educational Society and Social Welfare Organization operating an ODIC in Kupwara and a CPLI and an ODIC in Srinagar, Concerned About Universal Social Empowerment (CAUSE) (DDAC) in Pulwama, and National Educational Society and Social Welfare Organization (NESSWO) (DDAC) in Rajouri. (KNO)