States » EastPosted at: Sep 19 2026 2:12PM


Odisha steps up anti-drug campaign, focuses on enforcement, rehabilitation and alternative livelihoods

Bhubaneswar, Sep 19 (UNI) Odisha has intensified its campaign against drug abuse and trafficking, with Chief Secretary Anu Garg directing officials to strengthen enforcement, rehabilitation, awareness and alternative livelihood initiatives under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA).
Reviewing the progress of the campaign at a high-level meeting convened by the Special Task Force (STF) of the CID-Crime Branch at Lok Seva Bhawan here on Thursday, Garg stressed coordinated action by various departments, Odisha Police, district administrations and other stakeholders to curb drug demand and trafficking and ensure timely treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of affected persons.
The meeting reviewed enforcement against illegal drug trafficking, measures for reducing drug demand, public awareness initiatives, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
STF Inspector General Himanshu Lal briefed the meeting on the intensified crackdown on narcotics trafficking since the seventh State Narco-Coordination meeting held in June 2026 and apprised the participants of the progress achieved so far.
The status of cases registered under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act was also reviewed.
Enforcement and awareness activities have been stepped up at the block, gram panchayat and village levels in six districts identified as narcotics hotspots — Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Boudh.
With the cooperation of panchayat representatives and officials of the Forest and Revenue departments, people in these areas are being encouraged to shift to alternative livelihood opportunities.
Authorities are maintaining close surveillance over areas where cannabis is cultivated, and the meeting was informed that the enforcement drive would be further expanded in November.
The Odisha Police STF and Crime Branch have also intensified action against interstate networks involved in drug trafficking. Investigation, monitoring and legal proceedings in narcotics-related cases are being strengthened, while new investigation checklists and range-level task forces have been constituted to improve the quality of investigations.
Interstate information-sharing and coordination have also been strengthened. An interstate video conference was held on September 10 with officials from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the Narcotics Control Bureau.
The district-level Narcotics Coordination Committee mechanism is also being strengthened to ensure closer coordination among enforcement and other agencies.
The meeting decided to further intensify awareness, drug prevention, early identification, counselling, referral, rehabilitation and enforcement measures as part of efforts to build a drug-free Odisha.
The campaign will be expanded with the active participation of educational institutions, youth, women, Panchayati Raj Institutions, urban local bodies, NGOs, NSS, NCC and other social organisations.
Under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and the state's DISHA (Drug and Substance Abuse Intervention Services) scheme, various programmes are being implemented to reduce drug demand and support persons affected by substance abuse.
At present, 41 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres are functioning in Odisha to help people overcome drug addiction. Shelter homes, community-based peer intervention programmes and de-addiction centres are also functioning across the state.
Eleven DISHA rehabilitation centres are operational in 10 districts, while the process of signing MoUs for five more centres is underway. The remaining 16 districts will be covered in phases.
The meeting stressed the need to ensure timely counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for persons affected by drug addiction and to provide them with opportunities for skill development and alternative livelihoods.
DISHA rehabilitation centres are providing training in tailoring and sewing, handicrafts and basket-making, incense-stick production, digital literacy and computer skills to facilitate rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Garg stressed the need to create sustainable alternative livelihood opportunities for people involved in cannabis cultivation or drug trafficking through agriculture, horticulture, goat rearing, poultry farming, pisciculture, plantation and various skill-development programmes.
UNI DP
Tags: #Odisha steps up anti-drug campaign# focuses on enforcement# rehabilitation and alternative livelihoods
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