New Delhi: Being aware of the fact that India has become a major market for illegal drugs business, a Parliamentary Committee has asked the Central government to strengthen the checking at the ports, airports and borders with the latest technology, drones and CCTVs so that trafficking of drugs from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan is completely stopped.
The Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment said that there is a need to have a platform for various stakeholders to discuss issues at periodic intervals relating to drug trafficking, reduction in substance abuse, production, trafficking of drugs, and rehabilitation of drug addicts. “The menace of drug addiction is spreading fast among adults, young adults and even children in India. It is estimated that around 37 crore persons consume alcohol and various psychotropic substances in India. The problem has started affecting the young generation, in particular,” the committee chaired by Lok Sabha MP Rama Devi said.
Sandwiched between some of the largest drug-producing countries, the drug menace in India is to be curtailed both on the demand side and supply side, the committee said in its 51 reports tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The Committee find that various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, apart from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment have been tasked to handle various issues to prevent the demand and supply of drugs and ensure health and rehabilitation of drug addicts in the country.
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