New Delhi: The union government is all set to launch its first-ever national toll-free helpline -- 1933 -- along with an email on Thursday to allow any person to tip off the Narcotics Control Bureau (NC) about drug related crimes.
The helpline 'MANAS' (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra' or narcotics prohibition intelligence centre) will be rolled out by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the seventh apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD).
The meeting will be attended officers from central and state anti-narcotics agencies, special bureaus and police.
Along with the toll-free number for MANAS, officials said, there will be an email -- info.ncbmanas@gov.in -- in which public can share tip off. They can also submit information through the website -- ncbmanas.gov.in.
Officials said the helpline is aimed at establishing a user-friendly platform for every citizen to conveniently report drug-related matters 24x7.
The NCB officials said the exclusive portal is dedicated to addressing a range of issues regarding drug-related matters including drug trafficking, illegal sale, purchase, storage, manufacturing and illicit cultivation of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
While the identity and information provided by citizens on the helpline links will remain confidential, the officials said the NCB will verify the details provided and initiate action as deemed fit under the established procedures of Indian law and as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Citizens can report any drug-related crime and seek help regarding rehabilitation and counselling using the MANAS helpline.
The establishment of the first-ever helpline to check drugs trafficking and related crimes in the country had started in 2021 when Shah chaired the third NCORD meeting in Delhi and directed the authorities to bring out a unified portal and helpline number.
The NCB, earlier, used to have a landline number 011-26761000 and email ddge-ncb@nic.in and adenf-ncb@nic.in for the public to share information but it was not manned at all times.
The new helpline addresses this lacune and will work round the clock, officials added.
A joint coordination committee for coordination on operational matters of specific large cases, which have connections with other crimes and international ramifications will also be formed. Besides, a dedicated anti-narcotics task force (ANTF) will be set up in each state and UT and high priority will be given to drug disposal drives and the launch of the NIDAAN portal for narco offenders.
Creation of canine squads for drug detection, strengthening the forensic capabilities, establishment of special NDPS courts and fast track courts and launching Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) for awareness against drug abuse are also part of the initiatives.
The NCORD mechanism was formed in 2016 for better coordination between states and the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has been further strengthened through a four-tier system in 2019.
It has an apex-level NCORD committee, which is headed by the Union home secretary, an executive-level committee, which is headed by a special secretary, MHA, state-level committees, headed by chief secretaries, and district-level committees headed by district magistrates, the release said.
(With PTI inputs)