The central government has formally established a definitive timeline to eradicate substance abuse nationwide. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Modi administration has prepared a targeted roadmap designed to make India completely drug-free by the year 2029. According to reports, the ambitious policy relies heavily on a coordinated crackdown strategy and grassroots mobilization to tackle the narcotics menace.
A Three-Year Roadmap and Institutional Strategy
Unveiled by the Home Ministry, the newly launched three-year strategic roadmap outlines structured interventions to curb drug trafficking and abuse across the country. The framework emphasizes enhanced law enforcement and inter-agency coordination. By treating the eradication of narcotics with the same strategic urgency as internal security challenges, the Centre aims to systematically dismantle supply chains over the next three years.
Training One Lakh 'Nashamukti Mitras'
A core pillar of the government's grassroots approach involves human resource mobilization at the community level. The initiative includes training one lakh individuals to serve as 'Nashamukti Mitras' (friends of freedom from addiction). These community-level actors will play an instrumental role in spreading awareness, supporting rehabilitation efforts, and assisting vulnerable populations on the ground as part of the broader national campaign.
Parallels Drawn to Anti-Naxal Operations
In underscoring the gravity of the mission, government leadership has signaled an uncompromising posture toward narcotics syndicates. Officials have compared the magnitude and resolve of the ongoing anti-drug campaign to the state's aggressive efforts in tackling Naxalism.
Details on this aspect have not been reported yet regarding specific operational milestones for individual states, but the national directive remains clear. With the 2029 deadline now officially set, the coming years will test the implementation capacity of federal and state machinery in dismantling India's drug networks.


