New Delhi
More than 16.5 crore Indians, including over 5.5 crore youth and 3.43 crore women, have been made aware of the dangers of drug use under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), the government told Parliament on Thursday.
The campaign, launched in 2020 by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), now covers all districts in the country. Initially, it focused on 272 districts considered most at risk for substance abuse.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, B.L. Verma, stated in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha that over 4.47 lakh educational institutions have joined the campaign to spread awareness among students and young people.
The NMBA focuses on spreading knowledge about substance abuse in schools, colleges, and universities. To support this goal, the government is also running the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), which funds state governments, NGOs, and hospitals to set up Addiction Treatment Facilities and Rehabilitation Centres.
For direct help, a toll-free de-addiction helpline — 14446 — has been launched and has already received more than 4.3 lakh calls. The helpline offers counselling and refers callers to nearby treatment centres.
To increase the campaign’s reach, the government has signed MoUs with well-known spiritual organisations like Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, ISKCON, and others to conduct awareness activities. NMBA also uses social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram to promote drug-free living.
The campaign aims to build a strong, drug-free India through education, counselling, and community participation.
