The two-day conference, organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau, brought together heads of anti-narcotics task forces from 36 states and union territories, along with representatives of concerned government departments. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the event and launched television commercials aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of narcotic substances. He also laid the foundation stone for new zonal complexes of the NCB in Lucknow and Dehradun, unveiled a newly designed website for the bureau, and honoured the best-performing anti-narcotics task forces of states and union territories.
In his address, Shah stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has been making continuous efforts for the past five years to achieve a drug-free India. He declared that by December 31, 2029, the country will collectively succeed in uprooting the drug trade, which he described as the most serious threat to India and the world. The home minister introduced the 'Vision Document 2026-2029', prepared after discussions with more than 35 departments, which sets over 100 targets across four pillars: enforcement, intelligence and operations, control of precursor and synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction, and capacity building and coordination. Shah called the fight against drugs the most difficult battle, but said it cannot be abandoned, and stressed that building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 requires a drug-free youth, noting that India is the youngest country in the world and therefore faces the largest threat. He also pointed to recent successes in addressing terrorism in Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast, and Naxalism as evidence of the government's capacity to tackle major challenges.
ALSO READ | Lushin Dubey’s ‘Aruna’s Story’ heads to New York, fundraising for Smile Foundation
Shah emphasized the need to shift from a seizure-centric approach to dismantling entire drug networks, calling for backward-forward investigation, financial tracing, and targeting cartels at three levels: entry points, inter-state distribution systems, and local sales networks. He announced that districts would be classified into three clusters—those where drugs are manufactured or enter the country, those serving as transportation corridors, and those where consumption takes place. The home minister also stressed the importance of utilizing the PITNDPS Act, forming dedicated teams to think innovatively, and launching a campaign to deport foreign accused and blacklist them.
The campaign to prevent drug abuse will be taken to the grassroots level through the 'Nashamukt Mitras' initiative, with 46,780 volunteers already registered and plans to deploy them across 10 lakh schools, colleges, and other institutions to sensitize youth. Shah urged that all departments of state and central governments work together with top priority, highlighting the need for technology and forensics in capacity building. He also stressed the importance of preventing even a single gram of drugs from entering or leaving the country, and appealed to officials to meet the families of youth afflicted by addiction to understand the human cost.
