Centre sets deadline for states for the drug abuse survey

NEW DELHI: Concerned over delay in the pilot project to study drug abuse in Punjab, Maharashtra and Manipur, the Centre has set a deadline for the states to complete the task by year-end.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has also assured the states of full cooperation in terms of funds and other resources, so that they can complete the project in time and submit their report.

"There is an urgent need to conduct the pilot project which has been delayed for over an year now. The Ministry has prepared a detailed plan for these states with individual deadlines and they have been asked to complete the project by this year-end," Ministry officials said here.

The survey will be conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and they will be assisted by officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and the NGO's approved by the Ministry for the job.

Social Justice Ministry recently held a meeting of all the concerned states along with officials of NCB, NACO and NGOs where a detailed plan was given to the them, they said.

"The Ministry has assured the states that all assistance will be given to them in terms of funds and other resources," the officials said.

They also said that unlike the old plan, which was aimed to conduct surveys in select districts of these states, NSSO has now been asked to conduct the project in the entire state.

Government also plans to conduct a nation-wide survey on drug abuse after completion of the pilot project.

"Government does not have any accurate data on number of people consuming various kinds of narcotics and banned substances. The aim is to have a reliable data which will help in making suitable policies to tackle the issue," officials said.

The survey was expected to begin November last year, but the states failed to launch the initial programmes. The Ministry also wrote repeatedly to the states and held meetings with its officials to begin the programme at the earliest.

The Social Justice Ministry had launched a programme in 10 districts of Punjab in 2011 which have high prevalence of drug users.

So far only Punjab has managed to provided information sought by the Ministry and the survey agency.