Need to launch mass awareness campaign to check drug abuse in the country - Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot There is a need to launch mass awareness campaign to check drug abuse in the country. A well trained work force is required to take up this challenge. This was stated by Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment while laying Foundation Stone of the new building of National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) here today. He said that NISD has been mandate to address issues regarding the abuse and to prepare schemes and plans to check this evil in the country effectively. Shri Gehlot said that the NISD, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment was envisaged as the nodal Institute for imparting training and conducting research in the field of Social Defence. The NISD is assigned the task of human resource development in the areas of prevention of substance abuse and alcoholism, care giving for the elderly persons, prevention of beggary and other related social defence issues. The Institute constantly strives to achieve the objectives and developing policies which are preventive, curative and rehabilitative in nature in the field of social defence. On the occasion, Shri Vijay Sampla, Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said that it is gratifying to note at this juncture that the NISD is getting a new building of its own at a time when the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is planning to make the Institute a Centre of Excellence and an Institution of national repute. NISD is working broadly in four major areas, Old Age Care, Drug Abuse Prevention, Elimination of Beggary and Welfare of Transgender. It is undertaking various Training Programme / Courses, Research & Development in field of Social Defence. Issues regarding social defence in its wider spectrum have to be dealt with utmost priority for any progressive society.
