November 26, 2001

       More than 10.76 lakh drug addicts have been treated at de-addiction centres in the country during the last decade (1990-91 to 2000-01). These centres are financed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the scheme for Prevention of Alcholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse. This was stated by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. He said that the financial allocation for the scheme has been increased from Rs.4.60 crore in 1990-91 to Rs. 20.68 crore in 2000-01. Dr. Jatiya said that the Ministry is trying to prevent usage of new addictions through programmes aimed at awareness generation and preventive education and also through motivational counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. He said that the Ministry periodically reviews the scheme in order to take into account the requirements stipulaated by non-government organisations from time to time.