INTRODUCTION I
According to the latest assessments, there are approximately 4 Million drug addicts in India. The actual figure may be still higher. The most common drugs of abuse are ganja, hashish, opium and heroin. The abuse of pharmaceutical preparations hie buprenorphine, codeine based cough syrups and painkillers lie proxivon has also assumed serious proportions.
2. In certain regions of the country, drug abuse has already become a severe social-economic problem affecting the vulnerably age groups. It is, therefore, essential that State Governments / UT s
are aware of the drug related problems in their States/UTs and address them in an effective manner before they assume epidemic proportions. The strategies would include both supply reduction and demand reduction. Supply reduction would include enforcement activities while demand reduction would involve rehabilitation and de-addiction measures.
3. The Narcotics Control Bureau (N CB) being the national nodal agency for drug administration will process the requests from State Governments / UTs for financial assistance for improving their enforcement capabilities in dealing with the supply side of the drug menace.
4. A Scheme to finance State Governments/UTs to strengthen their enforcement capabilities for combating illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances was launched by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on October 24th, 2004 for a period of 05 years up to 31.13.2009 and the same was extended again for 05 more years from 2009-10 to 2013-14 and the scheme was further extended for 03 years from 2014-15 to 2016-17 with aim estimated budget of Rs. 10.00 cores, Rs. 15.00 crores and Rs. 15.00 N~% crores respectively. Considering the need for continuation of the M Central Assistance Scheme and its objectives, the Government of India has now decided to extend this Scheme for a further period
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