Government Strengthens Drug De-addiction Initiatives in Jammu & Kashmir
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) nationwide to prevent substance abuse through awareness campaigns, de-addiction, rehabilitation, and counseling services. In Jammu & Kashmir, the campaign has achieved significant reach, sensitizing over 1.20 crore people as of July 29, including specific targeting of 69.14 lakh youth and 51.20 lakh women. The movement has attracted 8,565 Nasha Mukti Mitras (volunteers) in the Union Territory.
The program operates under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and provides financial assistance to State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, NGOs, and Government Hospitals for preventive education, awareness generation, treatment, rehabilitation, and capacity-building programs.
Jammu & Kashmir has established a comprehensive network of de-addiction facilities including: one Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), three Outreach and Drop-In Centres (ODICs), two Community-Based Peer-Led Intervention (CPLI) programs, six District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs), and twenty-one Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in government hospitals.
The National Toll-Free De-addiction Helpline 14446 provides primary counseling and referral services, having received over 4.6 lakh calls nationwide, including more than 11,000 calls specifically from Jammu & Kashmir, indicating increased awareness and accessibility of support services.
Launched on August 15, 2020, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has now expanded to all districts across India. Nationally, the campaign has sensitized more than 29.05 crore people, including 11.05 crore youth and 7.81 crore women, with over 1.17 lakh Nasha Mukti Mitras participating nationwide.
The implementation of NMBA is regularly reviewed through monthly review meetings, Chintan Shivirs, and national-level conferences with States and Union Territories. States and UTs are encouraged to establish and regularly convene State, District, and Block-level NMBA Committees to strengthen coordination and ensure effective implementation. These efforts have contributed to sustained awareness generation, increased community participation, stronger inter-departmental coordination, and improved outreach for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services for persons affected by substance abuse.