The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s flagship program, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), is a nationwide initiative to create awareness about substance abuse, especially among youth. The program targets higher education institutions, university campuses, schools, and community engagement to ensure a drug-free society. Recently, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment joined hands with Brahma Kumaris to strengthen NMBA’s efforts to combat drug addiction. The program has already reached over 9.50 crore people, including 3.10 crore young individuals, in 372 districts across the country, and over 3 lakh educational institutions. In this article, we will discuss NMBA’s objectives, initiatives, and community involvement to promote a healthy and productive society.
Objectives of NMBA NMBA has four main objectives:
- Prevention of drug abuse: NMBA aims to create awareness about the dangers of drug addiction, the factors leading to it, and the ways to prevent it.
- Treatment and rehabilitation: The program aims to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to drug addicts to help them lead a drug-free life.
- Capacity building: NMBA seeks to enhance the capacity of stakeholders, including NGOs, volunteers, and community members, to deal with drug addiction effectively.
- Awareness generation: The program aims to generate mass awareness about the ill-effects of drug addiction and promote a healthy and productive lifestyle.
Initiatives under NMBA NMBA has conducted various activities to achieve its objectives. Some of these initiatives include:
- Creating awareness: NMBA has organized various events, seminars, and workshops to create awareness about drug addiction, its ill-effects, and ways to prevent it. The program has also used mass media, including television, radio, and social media, to spread its message.
- Capacity building: NMBA has conducted various training programs and workshops to enhance the capacity of stakeholders, including NGOs, volunteers, and community members, to deal with drug addiction effectively. The program has also created a network of trained professionals to provide support to drug addicts and their families.
- Treatment and rehabilitation: NMBA has set up drug de-addiction centers across the country to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to drug addicts. The program has also established a toll-free helpline to assist individuals seeking help.
- Community involvement: NMBA emphasizes community involvement to promote a sense of responsibility in tackling substance abuse. The program has involved local bodies, civil society organizations, and volunteers to spread its message and create awareness at the grassroots level.
Community Involvement NMBA recognizes that community involvement is crucial to creating a drug-free society. The program seeks to involve various stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society organizations, and volunteers, to achieve its objectives. The community involvement initiatives under NMBA include:
Partnership with NGOs:
NMBA has partnered with various NGOs to create awareness about drug addiction and provide treatment and rehabilitation services to drug addicts. The program has also provided financial assistance to NGOs to strengthen their capacity.Involvement of civil society organizations: NMBA has involved civil society organizations, including youth clubs, women’s groups, and self-help groups, to spread its message and create awareness at the grassroots level. The program has also provided training to these organizations to enhance their capacity to deal with drug addiction.
Engagement of volunteers:
NMBA has engaged volunteers to create awareness about drug addiction and assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. The program has created a network of trained volunteers to provide support to drug addicts and their families.
