“Collective Action Key to Nasha Mukt Bharat”: Virendra Kumar
Social Justice Ministry Highlights Expansion of De-Addiction Services Under National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th July: Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar on Saturday called for collective action by governments, communities and civil society to build a drug-free India, saying the Centre remains committed to achieving the vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
Highlighting the implementation of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), the minister said the campaign aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating a drug-free nation through awareness, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Virendra Kumar said the Ministry’s 2019 nationwide survey on the magnitude of substance use revealed that more than seven crore people were affected by substance use disorders, including nearly 1.2 crore children and 58 lakh women. He stressed that combating substance abuse requires awareness, empathy, inter-sectoral convergence and people-centric interventions.
Social Justice Secretary Sudhansh Pant said the Ministry has expanded treatment and rehabilitation services to 768 de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across the country. He said the number of people seeking treatment increased by 294 per cent, rising from 2.08 lakh in 2020 to over 8.20 lakh in 2025, reflecting growing public confidence in the system.
Pant said the Ministry’s toll-free de-addiction helpline 14446 has received 4.69 lakh calls, while the NMBA App 2.0 is helping states and other stakeholders monitor awareness activities and citizen participation in real time.
He also highlighted the success of Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah, observed from June 17 to 26 in Haridwar, which witnessed participation from more than 1.31 crore people through awareness campaigns, seminars, rallies, yoga sessions, competitions and community outreach programmes.
The Ministry appealed to citizens, educational institutions, youth organisations and community groups to join the nationwide campaign and register as Nasha Mukti Mitr to support the government’s mission of creating a drug-free and healthier India.
