Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: Government has banned e-cigarettes under Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019. Under this Act, the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes is prohibited. The enforcement of the Act lies with the States/Union Territories through law enforcement agencies. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has not investigated any case involving seizure of e-cigarette and vape devices with narcotic substances.
The Government has taken various steps to strengthen screening at airports, ports etc, some of which is as under: –
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs field formations keep constant vigil and take operational measures, inter alia, based on intelligence, passenger profiling with the aid of Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), risk-based interdiction and targeting, non- intrusive inspection like baggage and container scanning and coordination with other agencies.
Field formations are regularly sensitized to newer methods of smuggling.
K9 (Canine) Squad, specialized in detecting narcotics have been deployed at airports to curb smuggling of narcotics.
Action is taken in accordance with law on detection and seizure of narcotic drugs at airports, ports including arrest and prosecution of the persons involved.
There is no proposal to amend NDPS Act, 1985 in this regard.
Government has banned production and import of e-cigarettes under Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019. However, Government is taking various measures to tackle the issue of abuse of narcotic substances, some of which are as under: –
A National Narcotics Helpline No. 1933 “Madak-Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra” (MANAS) has been created as a 24×7 toll-free National Narcotics Call Centre helpline. Accordingly, MANAS has been envisioned as an integrated system providing a single platform for citizens to log, register, track and resolve drug related issues/problems through various modes of communication like call, SMS, Chat-bot, e-mail & web-link.
A Toll-free Helpline No.14446 for de-addiction is operated for providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to persons seeking help. Till date, more-than 4.30 lakh calls have been received on the Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction.
Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country. It has reached out to more than 24.9 crore people including 8.7 crore youth and 6 crore women.
Government through its autonomous body National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), etc. provides for regular awareness generation and sensitization sessions for all stakeholders including students, teachers, parents.
Navchetna Modules, Teachers Training Modules have been developed by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) for sensitizing students (6th – 11th standard), teachers and parents on drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.
Various programs such as rallies, paintings, distribution of pamphlets, posters, cultural program, nukkad nataks, radio programs and awareness campaigns are being organized throughout the year in School, Colleges and Universities.
