New Delhi|HL
Alcoholism and drug abuse have caused havoc in our country as well as in world said Hon’ble President of India, Pranab Mukherjee today on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
President presented the National Awards for Outstanding Services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse today in New Delhi.
On the occasion, the President told the award winners not to remain complacent and to continue with efforts for eradicating the twin menace. The President said the two vices have caused havoc in the social life of our country as well as across the world. The President also said many studies have established that terrorism, smuggling and drug activities are co-related. Unless these linkages are broken, it will be very difficult to fight all three.
Further at the event Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment said that, we should work towards bringing drug abuse victims into the mainstream society and make their lives a success.
He also said that his ministry is fully committed to implementation of demand reduction strategy in the country. With this in view, his ministry is implementing the Scheme of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse since 1985-86. Under the said Scheme financial assistance is provided to Non-Government Organization (NGOs) etc. who are engaged in demand reduction activities.
He said that he had also launched, a National Toll Free Helpline (1800-11-0031) to assist the alcoholics and drug dependent persons, their family members and community.
Around 50 calls daily received on the helpline number , and it became a medium for the drug addict victim to know the way to get out from addiction.
Krishan Pal Gurjar and Vijay Sampla, Ministers of State for Social Justice and Empowerment were also expressed their views on the subject.
Drugs are big business in all the states of India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau in 2014, there were 19,874 cases under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act reported in the country. Of this, Mumbai reported 14,274 cases followed by Amritsar with 1,382 cases. It translates into 77.5 cases per one lakh Mumbaikars, the highest under NDPS. The all-India average for the year 2014 was 12.4.
Maharashtra also ranks high in number of people committing suicide from drug abuse. In 2014, suicide from drug abuse formed 8.4% of all suicides in the state. The numbers for 2012 and 2013 crossed 10%, NCRB numbers show.
