Focus: GS-II International Relations
Why in news?
The 4th Session of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group comprising of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and India was held, with the Indian delegation led by the Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau.
Details
- Fruitful exchange of opinions concerning the drug situation in the BRICS states, the international and regional trends of illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as the impact of various internal and external factors on the situation took place during the summit.
- The common points emerged during the discussions include need for real time information sharing among the member states and need to curb increased drug trafficking through maritime routes.
- Misuse of darknet and other advanced technologies for drug trafficking was one of the key focal areas of the meeting.
Recently in news: Anti-Drug Action Plan for 2020-21
Recently, Nasha Mukt Bharat: Annual Action Plan (2020-21) for 272 Most Affected Districts was e-launched by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (26th June).
Anti-Drug Action Plan (Nasha Mukt Bharat Annual Action Plan for 2020-21)
Nasha Mukt Bharat Annual Action Plan for 2020-21 would focus on 272 most affected districts (list in Annexure) and launch a three-pronged attack combining efforts of
1. Narcotics Bureau,
2. Outreach/Awareness by Social Justice
3. Treatment through the Health Dept.
The Action Plan has the following components:
1. Awareness generation programmes;
2. Focus on Higher Educational institutions,
3. University Campuses and Schools;
4. Community outreach and identification of dependent population;
5. Focus on Treatment facilities in Hospital settings;
6. Capacity Building Programmes for Service Provider.
Aims of Nasha Mukt Bharat:
- Reach out to about 4 Lakh Children and Youth for awareness about ill-effects of drug use.
- Increase community participation and public cooperation
- Supporting Government Hospitals for opening up De- addiction Center in addition to existing Ministry Supported De-addiction Centers (IRCAs)
- Conducting Training programme for about 10000 participants
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry for drug demand reduction which coordinates and monitors all aspects of drug abuse prevention which include assessment of the extent of the problem, preventive action, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts, dissemination of information and public awareness.
What is BRICS?
BRICS is the international grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
- This was set up as a move towards greater multipolarity; hence the spread across three continents and both hemispheres.
- The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs and the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits.
- Four out of five members are among world’s ten largest countries by population and by area, except for South Africa.
- Bilateral relations among BRICS nations are conducted mainly on the basis of non-interference, equality, and mutual benefit.
- Currently, there are two components that make up the financial architecture of BRICS, namely, the New Development Bank (NDB) or sometimes referred to as the BRICS Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
Achievements of BRICS
- The main achievement of BRICS is the New Development Bank, with each country contributing equally to its equity
- The bank has so far financed over 40 projects at a cost of $12 billion
- The BRICS countries are also developing a joint payments mechanism to reduce foreign trade settlements in U.S. dollars
- An offshoot of the group, dealing with climate change, is BASIC (BRICS without Russia), which met at the Spain conference in December 2019 and reiterated its support to the Paris Agreement
