Srinagar, July 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra) and inaugurate the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Office at Srinagar.
The Home Minister will chair the 7th Apex Level Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Center (NCORD) on Thursday, in New Delhi.
Amit Shah will also release NCB ‘Annual Report 2023’ and Compendium on ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’. The meeting is aimed to coordinate and synergize the efforts of various central and state government agencies involved in countering drug trafficking and abuse in India.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has adopted a ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against drug trafficking to curb the menace of drugs. The Ministry of Home Affairs will achieve PM Modi’s goal of a drug-free India by 2047 through a 3 points strategy – strengthening of institutional structure, coordination among all narco agencies, and extensive public awareness campaign.
As part of this strategy, several steps have been taken which include:
Organizing NCORD meetings of all stakeholders at all levels of the four-tier system regularly.
Launch of a dedicated centralized NCORD Portal for sharing of activities and best practices.
Formation of a Joint Coordination Committee for coordination on operational matters of specific large cases, which have connections with other crimes and international ramifications.
Establishment of a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in each state/UTs.
High priority to Drug Disposal drive.
Launch of NIDAAN Portal for Narco offenders.
Creation of canine squads for drug detection.
Strengthening the forensic capabilities.
Establishment of Special NDPS Courts and Fast Track Courts.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) for generating Awareness against drug Abuse.
The NCORD mechanism was formed in 2016 for better coordination between states and the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has been further strengthened through a four-tier system in 2019. It has an Apex Level NCORD Committee, which is headed by the Union Home Secretary, Executive Level NCORD Committee, which is headed by the Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, State Level NCORD Committees, headed by Chief Secretaries and District Level NCORD Committees – headed by District Magistrates.
