Ensure India is free of drugs by Dec 2029: Shah to police forces, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a target for police forces to eliminate the drug menace in India by December 31, 2029.
• This deadline, initially set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is considered a major national priority.
• The drug issue is highlighted as a threat to future generations, an economic burden, and a source of funding for anti-national organizations.
• The announcement was made on Police Commemoration Day (October 21) at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi.
• A motorcycle rally themed 'Fight Against Drugs' was flagged off to raise awareness.

Detailed Insights:

• The government's anti-narcotics strategy is shifting from merely seizing contraband to dismantling entire transnational and inter-state drug cartel networks.
• This new approach emphasizes financial investigations, digital intelligence, and international cooperation to target the proceeds of crime generated by drug trafficking.
• Key initiatives include the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched in 2020, which focuses on awareness, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation in high-risk districts.
• The Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism, established in 2016 and restructured into a four-tier system, enhances coordination and intelligence sharing among central and state agencies.
• The Home Minister also noted the elimination of Naxalism by March 31, 2026, attributing this success to the efforts of the Chhattisgarh Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and CoBRA.
• Police Commemoration Day is observed annually on October 21 to honor police personnel who died in the line of duty, specifically commemorating 10 CRPF personnel killed in a 1959 ambush by Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA): A nationwide campaign launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to combat substance abuse through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD): A four-tier institutional mechanism established in 2016 for enhanced coordination and intelligence sharing among various agencies to combat drug trafficking.
• Police Commemoration Day: Observed annually on October 21 to honor police personnel who died in the line of duty, commemorating the 1959 Hot Springs incident.
• Naxalism: A Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) movement in India inspired by Maoist ideology, advocating armed struggle against the state, which the government aims to eliminate.