Ministry/Department : Ministry of Home Affairs
Aims to combat illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances by assisting states and Union Territories financially which are contributing in controlling inter-state and cross-border drug trafficking.
Scheme:
- The scheme was first launched in October 2004 for period of five years.
- It was later extended twice in subsequent years.
- It aims to assist states and Union Territories financially which are contributing in controlling inter-state and cross-border drug trafficking.
- The main strategy under the scheme includes reduction of both supply and demand of drugs and psychotropic substances.
- The supply reduction will include enforcement activities and demand reduction will involve rehabilitation and de-addiction measures.
- Why in news? Scheme has been extended for 3 more years.
Related Facts:
- There are approximately 40 lakh drug addicts in the country.
- The most common drugs of abuse are ganja, hashish, opium and heroin.
- Moreover there is serious abuse of pharmaceutical preparations like ‘buprenorphine’, codeine based cough syrups and painkillers like ‘proxivon’.
- In certain regions of country, drug abuse already has become severe social-economic problem affecting vulnerable age groups.