Government Allocates Rs 51.46 Crore for Drug Deaddiction Initiative from FY 2020-25
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Synopsis
The Union government has invested Rs 51.46 crore in the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, targeting drug deaddiction and awareness across all districts.
Key Takeaways
- Rs 51.46 crore allocated for drug deaddiction.
- Initiative launched on August 15, 2020.
- Over 15.44 crore people sensitized.
- Toll-free helpline 14446 established.
- Collaboration with 4.18 lakh educational institutions.
New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) The Union government announced on Wednesday that it has invested Rs 51.46 crore in its drug deaddiction initiative across the country from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was inaugurated on August 15, 2020, by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, initially targeting 272 high-risk districts, and has since expanded to include all districts nationwide.
“The NMBA has successfully engaged with the public, raising awareness about substance use, particularly in higher educational institutions, university campuses, and schools, while also identifying at-risk populations and facilitating access to counseling and treatment services in hospitals and rehabilitation centers,” stated BL Verma, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha.
“In the fiscal year 2020-21, the government allocated Rs 13.38 crore for NMBA; in 2021-22, it was Rs 3.14 crore; and in 2022-23, it amounted to Rs 1.50 crore. For 2023-24, the expenditure was Rs 6.19 crore, while for 2024-25, it reached Rs 27.25 crore,” he added.
According to the Minister of State, since 2020, over 15.44 crore individuals have been educated about substance use, including more than 5.17 crore youth and over 3.27 crore women.
The Ministry has collaborated with over 4.18 lakh educational institutions to disseminate the campaign’s message to the nation’s children and youth.
The initiative has also established a robust network of over 10,000 master volunteers (MVs) and introduced a toll-free helpline for de-addiction at 14446 to offer primary counseling and immediate referral services.
The Ministry has been actively promoting awareness through social media channels such as X, Facebook, and Instagram.
Additionally, an NMBA mobile application has been created to collect and analyze data regarding NMBA initiatives.
Moreover, Verma mentioned that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been established with six spiritual and social service organizations, including The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, All World Gayatri Parivar, ISKCON, and Shri Ram Chandra Mission, to bolster the NMBA and execute widespread awareness campaigns.
