Home Minister Amit Shah sets three-year target for a drug-free India

New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday set a deadline of three years to eradicate drug trade in India. “By 31 December 2029, we will collectively succeed in uprooting the drug trade from India,” Shah said while inaugurating the two-day Third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) heads of states and UTs. ANTF heads from 36 states and Union Territories, along with representatives from government departments and other stakeholders, are participating, as per an MHA statement.

Shah noted that Vision Document 2026-29 has been prepared after discussions with more than 35 departments. “We prepared the roadmap after taking suggestions from all stakeholders, and it has been given to everyone with definite targets. Targets and timelines have been fixed in it. A review will be held after some time,” Shah said.

Shah said this roadmap was prepared for the welfare of youth across the world.


“Meet the parents and siblings of at least one young person addicted to drugs. Until you meet them, the intensity of this fight cannot arise in you. A weeping mother, a younger sister and a boy who ranked in the top-10 in the Class 10 board examination who is slowly moving towards death, while his helpless parents watch. There can be no greater sorrow than this for anyone, and for us too as it is a national loss. A talented child who was going to contribute to India’s development– his life is ending midway. There can be no greater loss than this for us and for the country,” he said.

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He said the focal points of this fight have been identified, and a roadmap has been prepared at the state level to take intelligence, investigation, financial action and prosecution in one direction. Shah said that at the first ANTF conference, “we had created an institutional mechanism and strengthened it. At the second ANTF conference, we discussed capability, action and execution to convert that mechanism into action. The third ANTF conference will convert this roadmap into a decisive battle.

Shah said, “Whatever we have done so far is not enough. Until the principal of every school, the Patwari of the village, the PSI of the police station, the Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary of the state, and even the Union Home Secretary work in one direction, we will not achieve success.”

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He said today’s conference was important because this time “we will move forward towards complete victory by fixing the target, timeline and accountability. We now have to move from Meeting to Mission, from Reporting to Result, from Seizure to the dismantling of Networks, and from Case to Conviction. Until all departments of the state governments and the government of India engage in this work, we cannot move forward.”

Shah also launched television commercials to spread awareness against using narcotic substances.