New Delhi: Even as BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal staged dharnas against drug menace in Punjab, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot on Wednesday said the Centre was taking effective steps to control smuggling of drugs to the country.
"We are taking effective steps in this regard. Controlling the smuggling of drugs from abroad is dealt by the Home Ministry, BSF and Narcotics Department. If we get to know about any drug-peddling activity, the information is being passed on to appropriate authorities," the minister said after launching a national toll-free helpline to assist the alcoholic and drug-dependent persons.
The helpline 1-800-11-0031 has been launched against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation through 'Mann ki Baat' programme on December 14, where he had desired to set up such a helpline to assist the alcoholic and drug-dependent persons, their family members and community.
The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had staged dharnas against the drug menace in the state near the International Border and pitched for greater awareness and vigilance along the border with Pakistan on January 5. Asked about the action against non-performing NGOs, which receive funds from the Centre, Gehlot said that such NGOs would not get any fund from the government.
"We are looking into their progress reports, whether they have performed with the funds released in the past...We have also probed against 26-27 NGOs, following which some have been blacklisted, while we are trying to retrieve the funds from the others," the minister added.
Briefing on the occasion Social Justice Secretary Sudhir Bhargava said a pilot survey regarding the drug issues is being carried out in Punjab and Manipur. He also said the ministry is coming up with a National Drug Demand Reduction Policy shortly. "The policy would look into various issues including counselling (drug addicts) at initial stage" he said.
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