‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ reaches over 18 lakh people in UT
Seizure points to entrenched trafficking, cross border linkages
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 1: In a high-stakes battle against the narcotics trade, the law enforcement agencies in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir have seized a staggering 68,062 kgs of narcotics over the past five years and the massive haul underscores both the scale of the drug trafficking networks operating in the region and the sustained intensity of enforcement operations.
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This was revealed by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question by the National Conference Member of Parliament Ch Mohammad Ramzan, who had raised the query regarding drug addiction survey and seizures made in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pointing towards the reports submitted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B L Verma revealed that 68,062 kilograms of narcotics was seized by the law enforcement agencies in Jammu and Kashmir during the last five years.
In the year 2021, a total of 25,942 kilograms of narcotics were seized while in 2022, the seizure was 20,857 kilograms. In 2023, seizure of 11,066 kilograms of narcotics was reported by the law enforcement agencies while in 2024 and 2025 the seizure was 5,707 kilograms and 4,490 kilograms respectively.
According to reports submitted to the Narcotics Control Bureau, the quantity of drugs seized has shown a steady decline since 2021, yet remains substantial, the Minister said, adding to assess and to know the magnitude of the problem of substance use in the country, National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India was conducted by the Ministry through National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi during 2018.
The National Survey highlighted a deep-seated challenge in Jammu and Kashmir, estimating around 14 lakh substance users across various categories: Opioids– 5,40,000 users, Alcohol–3,90,000 users, Sedatives–1,70,000 users, Cannabis–1,40,000 users, Inhalants–1,35,000 users. Other substances include Cocaine, Amphetamines and Hallucinogens.
The Ministry claimed that it is tackling the demand for drugs through the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). This plan provides financial assistance to State/UT Governments and NGOs to run vital facilities like Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts, Community-based Peer Led Intervention for early drug use prevention among adolescents, Outreach and Drop In Centre and District De-Addiction Centre and Government Hospitals for Addiction Treatment Facility.
In Jammu & Kashmir, 21 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in Government Hospitals and 6 District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) are providing comprehensive care under one roof. Moreover, 3 Outreach and Drop-In Centres (ODICs) are operational for screening and assessment, 2 Community-based Peer Led Interventions (CPLIs) are focusing on youth awareness and one Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA) is operational for in-patient treatment and detoxification.
Stating that a toll-free helpline number has been launched by the Ministry for providing primary counseling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help, the Minister said that more than 4.69 lakh calls have been received so far on the helpline number including 11,111 calls from Jammu and Kashmir.
Regarding “Nasha Mukt Bharat” movement, which was launched on August 15, 2020 and expanded to all districts across India to spread awareness, the Minister said that in Jammu and Kashmir, till now, through the various activities undertaken on ground, 18.14 lakh people have been sensitized on substance use including more than 11.49 lakh youth and more than 6.65 lakh women.
“Further, participation of educational institutions has ensured that the message of Abhiyaan reaches children and youth of the Union Territory”, he further said, adding the Ministry has signed MoUs with eight spiritual organizations, including Art of Living and ISKCON, to conduct mass awareness activities. Even “Navchetna” training modules have been introduced to help students from 6th to 11th standard in building life skills and coping strategies”.
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