‘Mission Spandan’: NCB Collaborates with Spiritual Organizations to Combat Drug Abuse
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New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with five leading spiritual organizations as part of “Mission Spandan”, aimed at addressing drug abuse and addiction to psychotropic substances through spirituality, according to an official announcement made on Monday.
This initiative, conceived by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, intends to promote collective efforts in combating drug abuse through spirituality, awareness, and coordinated action.
During the event, Anurag Garg, the Director General of the NCB, emphasized the importance of the mission, stating, “Mission Spandan brings together efforts to cultivate resilience and promote a drug-free India.”
The MoU was executed on behalf of the NCB by Anand Prakash Tiwari, DDG (Special Wing, Legal and Awareness), along with representatives from spiritual organizations including Art of Living, Prajapita Brahma Kumari, Iskcon, Sant Nirankari Charitable Foundation, and Shri Ram Chandra Mission.
Through this collaboration, the NCB will extend technical support, provide educational resources, and coordinate with local authorities, while the spiritual organizations will spearhead grassroots awareness campaigns, youth-centered programs, and community engagement initiatives.
High-ranking officials from the NCB, including Monika Ashish Batra, Gyaneshwar Singh, and Neeraj Kumar Gupta, were present at the ceremony, highlighting the Bureau's dedication to this initiative.
The event concluded with a collective vow led by Anurag Garg, reaffirming a united commitment to eliminate substance abuse.
Mission Spandan now serves as a potent symbol of collaboration, representing a vital step toward creating a healthier and drug-free nation, he remarked.
According to the Comprehensive National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted in 2018, alcohol emerged as the most commonly used substance with 15.3 crore users nationwide, followed by cannabis with 3.1 crore users.
Additionally, a prior inquiry addressed in Parliament in August 2023 revealed that there were 200,000 hallucinogen users aged 10-17 years in 2018, while 1,101,000 hallucinogen users were in the age bracket of 18-75 years.
