Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired the 7th Apex Level Meeting of Narco-Coordination Center (NCORD) in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. On this occasion, the Home Minister launched National Narcotics Helpline 'MANAS' (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asuchna Kendra) and virtually inaugurated Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Office at Srinagar.
Shri Amit Shah also released NCB 'Annual Report 2023' and Compendium on 'Nasha Mukt Bharat'. MANAS will have a toll-free number 1933, a web portal, a mobile app, and a UMANG app so that citizens of the country can anonymously connect with NCB 24x7 to seek advice on de-addiction and rehabilitation and share information on drug trafficking.
And informed that, for capacity-building, the "Centre of Excellence for Narcotics Control" has been founded and 'Mission Spandhan' has been initiated to create awareness among the public regarding issues relating to drugs. Shah announced the constitution of the Zonal office at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, And stated, "It will focus on curbing drug trafficking through the northwestern border of India." NCB now has 30 zonal offices and 7 regional offices.
The Annual Report of 2023 of NCB highlights the efforts and accomplishments of NCB and all other agencies in its ongoing war against drug trafficking and drug abuse.
It contains the data for seizures done by all agencies in recent years, the latest trends on drug trafficking, action under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PITNDPS), financial investigation including action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), etc. Illicit cultivation is one big menace to be tackled, and, NCB along with BISAG-N has developed a web portal and mobile app "MAPDRUGS'' to curb illegal cultivation and provide accurate GIS information so that such illicit cultivation can be destroyed by the concerned agencies.
Prime Minister Modi has set a target to make India first in every field by 2047. The Modi government has tried to fight this battle in last 5 years based on the 'Whole of Government Approach' and on the three pillars of Structural, Institutional and Informational Reforms.
Earlier, the motto of our agencies was 'Need to Know', but now we should move towards 'Duty to Share' and this major change will have to be adopted by all agencies.
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