Indian states launch major anti-drug campaigns and welfare initiatives

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand are implementing large-scale initiatives to combat drug abuse and enhance social welfare.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recognized the region's grassroots welfare outreach and coordinated anti-drug efforts as a potential national model. Under the ‘Nasha Mukt J&K 100 Days Abhiyan’, the administration reported over 7.21 million outreach events. Law enforcement has registered 1,187 FIRs and arrested 1,349 individuals in drug-related cases, leading to the seizure of immovable properties valued at ₹98.28 crore and movable assets worth ₹7.04 crore belonging to traffickers. A proposed ‘Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026’ is also being developed to provide a structured three-year recovery framework.

In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has launched the ‘Drug-Free Uttarakhand’ initiative. During a walkathon in Dehradun, Dhami called for a mass social movement involving students and youth to spread awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and ensure the message reaches every household.