Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Shrimati Anu Garg chaired a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan to assess the implementation and progress of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan alongside key enforcement, rehabilitation, and awareness measures in Odisha.
Organized by the Special Task Force of CID-Crime Branch, the meeting highlighted coordinated actions among police forces, district administrations, and state departments to combat illegal drug networks while supporting individuals affected by substance abuse.
Additional Chief Secretary Home, Shri Hemant Sharma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary SSEPD Dr. Brunda D, STF IGP Shri Himanshu Kumar Lal, and DIG Shri Kanwar Vishal Singh, attended the Meeting.
Officials reviewed ongoing operations following decisions made during the 7th State Narco-Coordination meeting held in June 2026. STF IG P Shri Lal reported significant successes in raids against illicit drug networks and emphasized ongoing legal enforcement under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Special drives have targeted designated hotspot districts, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati, and Boudh, with planned expansion of anti-cannabis cultivation operations set for November.
To address drug abuse demand, the government is leveraging national programs alongside state initiatives like DISHA. Odisha currently operates 41 integrated rehabilitation centers, along with specialized shelter homes and community intervention networks. Additionally, 11 DISHA rehabilitation centers are functional across 10 districts, with expansion efforts active to cover all remaining districts. These centers focus on social reintegration through skill training in areas such as tailoring, handicrafts, incense manufacturing, and digital literacy.
Chief Secretary Shrimati Anu Garg underscored the importance of offering sustainable alternative livelihoods to people previously involved in illegal cultivation or drug trades. The state is connecting vulnerable populations to opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, aquaculture, and skill development schemes. Community awareness campaigns will further expand across educational institutions, local panchayats, urban bodies, NGOs, and youth groups like the NSS and NCC to build a drug-free Odisha.