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Maharashtra Approves Multi-Department Plan for Drug-Free State by 2029

Maharashtra Approves Multi-Department Plan for Drug-Free State by 2029
Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Plan for Drug-Free State by 2029 · deccanchronicle.com

Maharashtra’s government wants to make the state free of narcotic drugs by 2029.

The Cabinet approved a plan involving 20 government departments.

Officials will work to stop illegal drug production, transport, sales and cultivation.

Schools will teach children about the dangers of drugs from Class V starting in the 2027-28 school year.

The government also plans to create drug-free areas around educational institutions.

People affected by drug use are to receive de-addiction, treatment and rehabilitation services.

Police and other agencies will share information and use tools such as artificial intelligence and darknet monitoring to investigate drug networks.

Each year, the government will recognize the district that performs best in fighting drugs.

Key facts

Target
Maharashtra aims to become free of narcotic drugs by 2029.
Departments involved
The whole-of-government policy involves 20 departments from the village level to the state level.
Four pillars
Effective enforcement, drug-supply reduction, demand reduction, and de-addiction, treatment and rehabilitation.
School education
At least one drug-awareness lesson will be introduced from Class V in the 2027-28 academic year.
Drug-free zones
The government plans to establish drug-free zones within a 500-metre radius of educational institutions.
District award
The best-performing Drug-Free District is scheduled to receive an annual award on June 26, 2027.
Enforcement tools
The plan includes exclusive NDPS courts, special public prosecutors, artificial-intelligence analysis, darknet monitoring and an integrated NDPS dashboard.

Quotes

Manisha Mhaiskar

Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra’s Home Department

“We are planning to establish drug-free zones within a 500-metre radius of educational institutions and introduce drug-awareness lessons in the school curriculum from Class V. Colleges and universities will also be encouraged to develop drug-free campuses”
deccanchronicle.com

Senior official present at the Cabinet meeting

Government official who attended the Maharashtra Cabinet meeting

“Under the action plan, the Revenue, Forest and Agriculture departments will continuously take action under Sections 8 and 47 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, to prevent illegal cultivation and production of narcotic substances”
deccanchronicle.com

Sources

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