SC asks Centre to put in place, within 6 months, national action plan to curb rising drugs abuse

New Delhi: The apex court of the country, Supreme Court, on Wednesday asked the Centre to put in place within six months a national action plan to curb the rising drugs and alcohol abuse cases among school children, observing they are encouraged to become "drug peddlers once they get addicted". A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and D Y Chandrachud also asked the Centre to conduct a national survey on the substance and alcohol abuse and use of psychotropic substances among children in schools across the country. Here are the important points:

• Issuing a slew of directions, the bench observed "Children are encouraged to become drug peddlers once they are addicted (to drugs)."
• The bench also favoured a re-look on the curriculum to make school children aware about substance abuse and its ill-effects.
• The directions were passed on a 2014 PIL filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
• The NGO, in its plea, had sought a direction to formulate a national action plan for children on drugs and substance abuse including all issues of identification, investigation, recovery, counselling and rehabilitation.
• It had also sought creation of model syllabus on ill-effects of drugs and substance abuse.
• The NGO, represented by senior advocate H S Phoolka, had sought setting up of rehabilitation and de-addiction centres in each district of the country with a special wing for children.