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Scheme for Assistance to States/UTs against Narcotics Drugs

Revised Guidelines of the Scheme for “Assistance to States and UTs” for availing assistance for strengthening their enforcement capabilities in combating illicit trafficking in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substances

Introduction

According to the latest assessments, there are approximately 4 Million drug addicts in India. The actual figure may be still higher. The most common drugs of abuse are ganja, hashish, opium and heroin. The abuse of pharmaceutical preparations like buprenorphine, codeine based cough syrups and painkillers like proxivon has also assumed serious proportions.

In certain regions of the country, drug abuse has already become a severe socio-economic problem affecting the vulnerably age groups. It is, therefore, essential State Governments/UTs are aware of the drug related problems in their States/UTs and address them in an effective manner before they assume epidemic proportions. The strategies would include both supply reduction and demand reduction. Supply reduction would include enforcement activities while reduction would involve rehabilitation and de-addiction measures.

The Scheme

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) being the national nodal agency for drug administration will process the requests for State Governments/UTs for financial assistance for improving their enforcement capabilities in dealing with the supply side of the drug menace.

A Scheme to finance State Governments to strengthen their enforcement capabilities for combating Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances was launched by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on October 24th, 2004 at an estimated cost of Rs.10.00 Crore. The Scheme was valid for a period of 5 years i.e. till 31.3.2009. Considering the need for continuation of the Central Assistance Scheme and its objectives, the Government of India has further decided to extend this Scheme for a further period of 5 years i.e. from 2009-10 to 2013-14 with an estimated budget of Rs.15 Core.

Revised Scheme

This Scheme shall be referred to as “Assistance to States and UTs” and will be in operation from 1.4.2009 to 31.3.2014. The purpose of the Scheme is to assist State Government/UTs who are contributing in controlling the inter-State and cross-border drug trafficking. In order to achieve these objectives, financial assistance has been proposed to be provided to all the above agencies for strengthening their enforcement capabilities in combating illicit trafficking in narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances.

Eligibility

Finance assistance shall be provided only to those States/UTs which have established the following basic institutional arrangements for effective enforcement of anti narcotics laws:

  • A Multi disciplinary level Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary or a senior Secretary has to be established for regular interaction with various Central and State agencies including NCB for coordination and sharing of information and reviewing the drug situation in the State. The Coordination Committee may meet at regular intervals with a structured agenda on drug related matters.
  • The States should set up an Anti Narcotics Task Force under an IG/DIG level officer with duties and responsibilities duly demarcated.
  • The States should have formalized an Action Plan to address narcotics related issues. The Action Plan should include, inter-alia, identification of regions, which are sensitive to drugs trafficking, requiring focused attention and strategy for action in these regions. The Action Plan should address both demand control and supply control strategies.

Nature of Assistance

Assistance is provided in kind for the following equipment's:

  • Surveillance equipment
  • Laboratory equipment
  • Vehicles for patrolling/surveillance
  • Computers and their accessories
  • Fax machine and photocopies; and
  • Other equipments useful for enforcement.

The above requirement of the States, which submit their proposals, will be examined by the ‘Empowered Committee’ constituted specially in the Union Home Ministry for the purpose. The scheme does not provide for assistance to meet recurring expenditure and therefore, will be one time grant only with no matching assistance required. Assistance will be provided only to cells / units which are exclusively engaged with drug law enforcement. The assistance received shall not be diverted for other purpose.

Assistance will also be provided for special projects falling within the mandate of NCB. The special projects would be those relating to non-enforcement activities. An example would be alternative development programmes in states, which have perennial problem of illicit cultivation. NCB would provide assistance for cultivation of agricultural products like cash crop, fruit crops and as such similar ventures which shall motivate cultivators to shift from illicit cultivation to other activities. Such proposals shall be mooted by the State Governments. As a National Nodal Agency, NCB shall encourage and support such programmes/activities which shall help in supply reduction.

Modalities for Approval of Schemes

Proposals submitted by the eligible State Government would be placed before to an “Empowered Committee” consisting of Secretary(IS), MHA; Financial Adviser, MHA; DG NCB and Joint Secretary (IS-II), MHA. The eligibility would be decided on the basis of the gravity of the problem in the concerned States(s), target group, the present infrastructure of the State Government to tackle the problem etc. The criteria, manner and kind of assistance will be determined by the ‘Empowered Committee’. The assistance would be in the form of a Grant-in-aid to States with no matching assistance required.

State Governments shall submit an Action Plan for the 5 years duration and also submit the split up Annual Action Plan in respect of each of these 5 years.

The grant-in-aid may be given upfront on an annual basis subject to submission of Utilization Certificate and Audit Certificate in respect of utilization of grants received earlier.

Monitoring Mechanism

The implementation of the Scheme will be monitored by DG, Narcotics Control Bureau. The State Governments/UTs who avail of assistance under the Scheme, shall furnish annual performance in the proforma prescribed by NCB.

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