GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Start Date
15/09/2026 - 12:00
End Date
15/10/2026 - 17:45
Time zone: IST (GMT +5.30 Hrs)
Created : 15/09/2026
203
Total Comments
139
Users Participated
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), in collaboration with MyGov, invites suggestions on the draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the “Prevention & Response Framework for Drugs & Substance Use among Children.”
The SOP is being developed by NCPCR in accordance with the Joint Action Plan on Prevention of Drugs and Substance Abuse among Children and Illicit Trafficking, 2021.
The proposed Framework will incorporate inputs received from various stakeholders, emerging best practices, recent research, and relevant recommendations contained in the NCORD Vision Document.
The Framework aims to provide a comprehensive and child-centric approach for the prevention, early identification, response, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of children affected by drug and substance use and illicit trafficking.
Through this initiative, NCPCR seeks valuable suggestions from stakeholders and citizens to strengthen the proposed Framework and ensure a coordinated, effective, and rights-based response to address drug and substance use among children.
1 month ago
A child asking for help should never have to fear being labelled. I suggest that the SOP create a confidential “Early Help, Not Stigma” pathway in schools, child-care institutions, and primary health settings. A child should be able to privately report substance-related pressure, experimentation, exposure, or fear even before dependence develops and receive a timely assessment and appropriate support without automatic punishment or public disclosure. A trained nodal person should connect the child with counselling, healthcare, family support or rehabilitation when required, with follow-up after referral. The system should record the support provided and outcomes, not simply count how many children were identified. Prevention should begin at the first warning sign, while protecting the child’s dignity and future.
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1 month ago
The SOP could emphasise:
The response to substance use among children should prioritise prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, family support and protection, rather than stigma or punishment.
1. Purpose
Prevent substance use among children.
Ensure early identification and timely support for children who may be using substances.
Protect children from exploitation, trafficking and exposure to drugs.
2. Family Involvement
Involve parents/caregivers wherever this is safe and appropriate.
Provide families with counselling and information about available services.
3. Confidentiality and Privacy
Protect the child's identity and personal information.
Limit access to sensitive records.
Clearly specify when information may need to be shared for the child's protection or as required by law.
4. Follow-Up and Rehabilitation
Assign a responsible officer/case worker.
Monitor the child's recovery and school/community reintegration.
Provide continuing counselling
1 month ago
The government treat children using substances strictly as victims in need of care, not criminals, by completely banning school expulsions and police lockups. It should mandate strict digital age-verification for online pharmacies, create a 100-metre drug-free monitoring zone around all schools, and enforce the creation of separate, child-friendly recovery centers entirely isolated from adult rehabs. Finally, the framework must ensure 24 months of community aftercare and flexible school re-entry to help these children safely rebuild their lives without stigma.
1 month ago
For children facing substance use alongside trafficking, homelessness, abuse, exploitation, school dropout or family vulnerability, the SOP should establish a One Child–One Response Team. A multidisciplinary team comprising a child-protection professional, counsellor, healthcare provider, education representative and, where necessary, police or legal-support representative could prepare an individualized protection and recovery plan. The team should identify the child's immediate safety requirements, treatment needs, family circumstances, educational needs and rehabilitation goals. A single case coordinator should remain responsible for follow-up until the child is safely reintegrated. This approach would prevent fragmented interventions and ensure that prevention, treatment, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration function as one continuous child-centred process.
1 month ago
Children returning from treatment or rehabilitation should receive a structured Recovery-Friendly School Reintegration Plan rather than simply being expected to resume normal schooling. A designated teacher or counsellor could coordinate academic catch-up support, attendance monitoring, peer sensitisation, extracurricular participation and periodic well-being check-ins. Schools should maintain confidentiality and prohibit discrimination, bullying or public disclosure of a child's treatment history. Where appropriate, flexible learning arrangements should be provided during recovery. The programme could also create trained Student Well-being Champions who promote healthy lifestyles and help build supportive peer environments without identifying or singling out children in recovery. Reintegration should focus on education, dignity, relationships and long-term development.
1 month ago
The SOP should recognize that children increasingly encounter substance-related content, peer influence and potential exploitation through digital platforms. NCPCR could promote a Safe Digital Spaces for Children initiative comprising age-appropriate digital education, anonymous counselling, verified information and easy referral to professional support. Interactive games, short videos, quizzes and regional-language content could teach children how to recognize manipulation, peer pressure, online drug promotion and trafficking risks. A confidential chatbot or helpline could allow children to ask questions without immediately identifying themselves. The framework should also include digital-literacy training for parents and teachers so they can recognize online risks while respecting children's privacy and avoiding excessive surveillance.
1 month ago
A confidential Child Recovery Passport could be introduced for children receiving treatment or rehabilitation for substance use. With appropriate consent and privacy safeguards, it could record essential information such as treatment history, counselling needs, educational status, rehabilitation goals, follow-up appointments and referrals. The child should not have to repeatedly explain their circumstances when moving between hospitals, rehabilitation centres, schools or districts. Access should be restricted to authorized professionals, with strong data-protection measures. The passport should focus on recovery and rights rather than criminal history. A portable continuity-of-care mechanism would be particularly useful for children who relocate between caregivers, districts or institutions during treatment and rehabilitation.
1 month ago
The SOP should establish an Early Warning Child Protection Network connecting schools, teachers, counsellors, parents, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, Child Welfare Committees and District Child Protection Units. Instead of waiting for a child to develop serious substance-use problems, trained frontline personnel should be able to identify early behavioural, educational, social and emotional indicators and confidentially refer the child for assessment. A simple, child-friendly referral protocol and digital dashboard could help track whether support has actually reached the child. The system should strictly avoid labelling or punishing children, ensuring that early identification leads to counselling, protection and appropriate care rather than stigma or disciplinary action.
1 month ago
The framework should focus on early identification, counselling and timely support for children affected by drug and substance use. Schools, parents and local authorities should be encouraged to identify warning signs and provide help without creating fear or stigma. Easy access to counselling, healthcare and rehabilitation should be ensured, along with proper follow-up and support for children to return to education and normal social life. The approach should be child-friendly, preventive and focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
1 month ago
बच्चों को नशे और मादक पदार्थों से बचाने के लिए केवल रोकथाम ही नहीं, बल्कि जागरूकता, भावनात्मक सहयोग, प्रारंभिक पहचान और समय पर सहायता को भी SOP का महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा बनाया जाना चाहिए। विद्यालयों में नियमित रूप से आयु-उपयुक्त जागरूकता गतिविधियाँ, जीवन-कौशल शिक्षा, परामर्श एवं अभिभावक सहभागिता को मजबूत किया जाए। प्रत्येक विद्यालय में ऐसे सुरक्षित एवं विश्वासपूर्ण वातावरण का निर्माण हो, जहाँ बच्चा बिना डर या शर्म के अपनी समस्या साझा कर सके। “बच्चों को नशे से दूर रखने का सबसे प्रभावी उपाय है—उन्हें सही दिशा, सही संगति और सही अवसर देना।” “बचपन की सुरक्षा, राष्ट्र के भविष्य की सुरक्षा है।” साथ ही, नशे से प्रभावित बच्चों को केवल दोषी न मानकर सहायता, उपचार, पुनर्वास और सम्मानजनक पुनःएकीकरण का अवसर दिया जाना चाहिए। विद्यालय, परिवार, स्वास्थ्य विभाग, पुलिस, बाल संरक्षण संस्थाओं और समुदाय के बीच समन्वित प्रयास इस अभियान को अधिक प्रभावी बना सकते हैं।
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