NMBA: J&K reaches over 25 lakh people under anti-drug campaign

Ovaise Gul
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02 May 2026

‘17,520 edu institutions covered, 10,679 activities conducted’

Srinagar, May 01: To eradicate the drug menace from Jammu and Kashmir under the Government of India's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), the Jammu and Kashmir administration has reached out to 25.57 lakh people across the region to sensitise them about substance abuse through more than ten thousand activities.

According to data accessed by Rising Kashmir, J&K has sensitised a total of 25,57,588 people since the launch of the campaign, including 15,83,615 youth and 9,73,973 women, through 10,679 activities conducted at various levels, including educational institutions. A total of 17,520 educational institutions across the Union Territory have been covered.

In Srinagar alone, 1,319 activities were conducted, and the administration reached out to 8,32,067 people, including 2,88,590 youth and 2,69,623 women, across the district. A total of 6,193 educational institutions and 15 villages were covered under the anti-drug campaign.

To further intensify efforts against the drug menace, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched a 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan on April 11 in Jammu. During the 19 days of the ongoing campaign, officials informed that 296 drug peddlers have been arrested in the Kashmir Valley alone.

Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir Anshul Garg and Inspector General of Police (IGP) V.K. Birdi co-chaired a joint meeting at PCR Kashmir on April 29 to assess implementation and progress, directing intensified efforts, better coordination, and innovative strategies to make the campaign more impactful.

District SSPs briefed that sustained enforcement drives under the NDPS Act have led to the arrest of 296 drug peddlers, registration of over 281 cases, and identification of key hotspots. Officers also briefed that about 460 awareness programmes have been organised to sensitise the general public, especially students, about the ill effects of drug abuse.

A major Padyatra is scheduled to be held in Srinagar on May 3 (Sunday), which will be flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from Football Stadium at Polo View to Clock Tower, aimed at promoting a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir amid the ongoing 100-day campaign.

At the national level, NMBA was launched on August 15, 2020, by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment in 272 identified vulnerable districts and was later extended to all districts of the country with effect from August 15, 2023. Over 25 crore people have been sensitised nationally, including over 9.5 crore youth and more than 6.47 crore women, through over 8.3 lakh activities.