THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

Odisha has intensified its multi-pronged campaign against drug abuse and narcotics trafficking, with the state government sharpening enforcement, expanding rehabilitation services and promoting alternative livelihoods in six identified narcotics hotspots.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Thursday reviewed the implementation of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) in the state, laying emphasis on reducing demand for narcotics, disrupting drug trafficking networks and strengthening treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of people affected by substance use.

The review meeting, convened by the Special Task Force (STF) of the CID-Crime Branch at Lok Seva Bhawan, brought together officials from the Odisha Police, district administrations and various departments to chalk out coordinated measures to prevent drug abuse and improve access to counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.

STF Inspector General Himanshu Lal briefed the meeting on the intensified action against the narcotics trade following the seventh State Narco-Coordination Meeting held in June. Officials said raids and awareness drives have been stepped up across blocks, gram panchayats and villages in six identified hotspots — Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Boudh.

Authorities are also joining hands with Panchayati Raj representatives as well as Forest and Revenue officials to encourage alternative sources of income in areas where ganja cultivation is prevalent. The focus is on creating sustainable livelihood opportunities so that vulnerable communities can move away from activities linked to the illegal narcotics trade.

The state has simultaneously strengthened its response to inter-state drug trafficking networks. New investigation checklists and range-level task forces have been constituted to improve the quality of narcotics cases, while coordination with neighbouring states and the Narcotics Control Bureau has been stepped up.

An inter-state video conference involving West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the NCB was held on September 10, while district-level Narcotics Coordination Committees are also being strengthened to improve information sharing and coordinated action.

On the rehabilitation front, 41 integrated rehabilitation centres are currently functioning in Odisha under initiatives linked to the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). In addition, 11 DISHA rehabilitation centres are operational in 10 districts, with five more centres in the process of being established. The remaining 16 districts will be covered in phases.

The government is also seeking to connect rehabilitation with skill development and livelihood generation, with programmes covering activities such as tailoring, handicrafts, incense-stick making and digital literacy.

Garg stressed the need to create viable alternatives for people involved in ganja cultivation or the narcotics trade, urging greater promotion of agriculture, horticulture, goat rearing, poultry, pisciculture, plantation and skill-development activities.

The Chief Secretary also called for wider involvement of educational institutions, youth, women, Panchayati Raj Institutions, urban local bodies, NGOs, NSS, NCC and other social organisations in the campaign.

She emphasised strengthening community-level awareness and ensuring early identification of substance-use problems, along with timely counselling, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration.