Drug-Free India: Amit Shah Calls for Coordinated Efforts to Combat Menace

New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, addressed the inaugural session of the second National Conference of the Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of states and Union Territories in New Delhi. The conference, held on September 16 and 17, brought together ANTF heads from 36 states and Union Territories, along with stakeholders from other government departments.

Amit Shah emphasized the importance of a collective effort to achieve a drug-free India, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India by 2047 can only be realized by protecting the youth from drugs. He highlighted the need for a high-level strategy targeting drug cartels, involving state and district police, and adopting technologies such as darknet analysis and cryptocurrency tracking.

The Union Home Minister praised the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its work in extraditing fugitives and urged ANTF heads to coordinate with the CBI Director to establish a robust extradition system. He also emphasized the need for a joint mechanism involving NCB, CBI, and state police to bring back foreign criminals and fugitives involved in drug trafficking.

Amit Shah highlighted several government initiatives, including the Online Drug Disposal Campaign and the Mission Drug-Free Campus campaign in universities and institutions across the country. He also mentioned the significant progress made in destroying drugs, with approximately 1,37,917 kilograms of drugs worth about ₹4,800 crore destroyed at 11 locations across the country.

The Union Home Minister emphasized the importance of a top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach to address the drug problem, involving every district, its police, and education officers. He urged all ANTF chiefs to prepare an anti-narcotics action checklist and review it every three months to ensure that the fight reaches down to the grassroots.

Amit Shah called for a ruthless approach to break the drug supply chain, a strategic approach for demand reduction, and a humane approach in harm reduction. He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to achieve a drug-free India and urged all stakeholders to dedicate 12 days in a year to this battle.

The conference provided a platform for ANTF heads to discuss best practices, share experiences, and develop strategies to combat the drug menace in the country. With the government’s commitment to a drug-free India, the conference marked an important step towards achieving this vision.