Kashmir Post-370, Judgement,Urgent Need for Comprehensive Strategies to Combat Drug Menace Across India- NCRB annual report

The Supreme Court’s constitution bench has upheld the 2019 GOI decision to revoke the special status granted to J&K under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. With this judgment now behind us, all focus should be on investigating what threats continue to impede the full integration of J&K with the rest of India, and proceeding to effectively neutralise them.

SC’s seal on ending special status is a psychological plus for integration. Politics must now connect with people. But the security apparatus must remain vigilant. Many inside & outside India don’t want peace

Urgent Need for Comprehensive Strategies to Combat Drug Menace Across India- NCRB annual report

 

The National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) annual reports consistently draw attention, but a broader perspective, especially concerning drug-related issues, is crucial. It is imperative to develop comprehensive pan-India strategies to address the expanding influence of drug syndicates. Focusing solely on which state consumes more drugs than others oversimplifies the data. In 2022, Kerala topped the list with 26,619 FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, followed by Maharashtra (13,830) and Punjab (12,442). Kerala's emergence as a new drug hotspot should not provide comfort to other states; rather, it underscores the need for unified action.

 

The NCRB data reveals alarming trends, indicating a surge in drug production, smuggling, and consumption nationwide. In 2022, 681 individuals, including 116 women, lost their lives to drug overdose in India. Punjab recorded the highest number of such deaths at 144, followed by Rajasthan (117) and Madhya Pradesh (74). Punjab also led in the registration of cases related to drug possession for trafficking, with 7,433 cases, and recorded 5,009 FIRs for personal drug possession, up from 4,206 in 2021.

 

The NCRB data unequivocally demonstrates that the battle against drugs is now a nationwide challenge, and Punjab likely underreports cases. Addressing this requires coordinated inter-state plans and central assistance. While the increase in NDPS case registrations indicates proactive efforts by certain state governments, the dismal conviction rate is a significant disappointment. The proliferation of the menace is fuelled by delayed or weak chargesheets and the focus on catching peddlers instead of targeting the drug lords. Immediate and cohesive action is imperative to curb this escalating national crisis.

Human Security-India's alarming track record in industrial safety.

Accountability is a pressing concern in the aftermath of recent industrial incidents in Chennai and Maharashtra, shedding light on India's alarming track record in industrial safety. These events not only underscore the immediate need for a robust response system but also prompt critical inquiries into systemic deficiencies.

India's environment and safety laws, far from impeding economic progress, suffer from inefficacy that not only jeopardizes lives but also disrupts livelihoods. The question of accountability looms large in addressing these systemic failures.