Geo-Cultural Development

Issues

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 Table of Contents
1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Geo-Culture Development Issues ......................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Regionalism ................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.2 Development Issues due to Regionalism .............................................................................. 4
2.1.3 Way Forward ......................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Communalism ............................................................................................................................... 5
2.2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 5
2.2.2 Development Issues due to Communalism .......................................................................... 6
2.2.3 Way Forward ......................................................................................................................... 8
2.3 Caste System ................................................................................................................................. 9
2.3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 9
2.3.2 Development Issues due to Caste System ............................................................................ 9
2.3.3 Way Forward ....................................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Issues related to women ............................................................................................................. 11
2.4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 11
2.4.2 Development Issues faced .................................................................................................. 12
2.4.3 Way forward ....................................................................................................................... 13
2.5 Substance abuse ......................................................................................................................... 14
2.5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 14
2.5.2 Development Issues Faced due to the Substance Abuse ................................................... 14
2.5.3 Way Forward ....................................................................................................................... 15

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 1 Introduction
✓ The Indian society has evolved through the ages and advancements have taken place
in diverse fields. However, in every society, there are geo-cultural issues that need to
be addressed and tackled. Security of people, particularly of the vulnerable sections,
such as women, children, and elderly people is a major concern in contemporary
Indian society.
✓ In this chapter, we will read about the major geo-cultural issues that need our
immediate attention. Some of the important geo-cultural issues that need to be
addressed today are regionalism, caste system, dowry, communalism, substance
abuse, etc.

2 Geo-Culture Development Issues

Some of the major Geo-Cultural Development issues are as follows:

2.1 Regionalism

2.1.1 Introduction
✓ To understand regionalism, we must first understand the region's varied aspects. A
region is a geographical unit that is separated from one another.
- The relationship between diverse human beings and groups is reflected in the
region as a social structure.
- Regions are groups of people who work together in cultural, economic, political,
and military domains. Region is treated as a separate entity with its own identity,
language, culture, and traditions.
✓ If the interest of one region or a state is claimed against the country as a whole or
against another region/state in a hostile way, and if a conflict is promoted by such
alleged interests, then it can be called as regionalism.
✓ The roots of regionalism can be found in India's vast diversity of languages, cultures,
ethnic groups, communities, faiths, and so on, which is fed by a sense of regional
deprivation and promoted by the regional concentration of such identification
markers.
✓ Regionalism has remained perhaps the most potent force in Indian politics ever since
independence (1947), if not before. It has remained the main basis of many regional
political parties which have governed many states since the late 1960s

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 2.1.2 Development Issues due to Regionalism
Let us understand the different issues that arise due to the regionalism in India:

✓ Effect on National Policies: Regionalism definitely impacts politics as days of collation

government and alliances are taking place. Regional demands become national
demands, policies are launched to satisfy regional demands and generally those are
extended to all pockets of country, hence national policies are now dominated by
regional demands.
- E.g. MSP given to sugarcane, it was helpful for farmers in Maharashtra but it was
implemented across all states resulting agitations of farmers belonging to UP,
Punjab and Haryana.
- Meanwhile it also sowed seed of defection among ministers and targeting to
corresponding minister.
✓ Democracy: Some regional leaders play politics of vote bank based on language,
culture, this is certainly against healthy democratic procedures. This always leads to
demand for separate state and it has observed that after creating small states only
few political leaders could run efficient government else alliances run government
which ultimately makes administration machinery ineffective.
✓ Unrest in States: Developmental plans are implemented unevenly focusing on
regions to which heavy weight leaders belongs are benefitted, hence unrest is
generated among rest regions.
- Law and order is disturbed, agitations with massive violence take place ultimately
government is compelled to take harsh steps; hence wrong signals are emitted
about government authorities.
✓ Hurdle in International Diplomacy: Regionalism, also becomes hurdle in the
international diplomacy, as in 2013 we saw how Tamil Nadu regional parties were
against the Prime Minister of India, attending the Commonwealth heads
meeting(CHOGM) in Sri Lanka. These actions have their direct implication on the
relation of India with Sri Lanka or other countries of the forums.
- Another case is of Mamata Banerjee not agreeing to Land Boundary agreement
and Teesta River Water sharing, when the leaders at centre level were ready to do
it.
✓ Threat to nation’s Security: Regionalism is often seen as a serious threat to the
development, progress and unity of the nation. It gives internal security challenges by
the insurgent groups, who propagate the feelings of regionalism against the
mainstream politico-administrative setup of the country.

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 ✓ Impact on Development: The regionalism induced violence disturbs the whole
society, people are killed, students cannot attend the schools & colleges, tourism
cannot be promoted, etc. This impacts the development of human resource,
governments need to deploy extra forces to control the situation and it has direct
implication on the economy of the nation.
- Impacted societies remain aloof from the mainstream development and then
the regional variations and backwardness is clearly reflected.

2.1.3 Way Forward

✓ While the government has made a number of initiatives to promote inclusive
development, such as launching officially sponsored schemes and providing
incentives to private companies for development in backward areas, there is a larger
need for their effective implementation. Despite the fact that the National
Integration Council was established in 1961, there is a need to better utilize its
potential.
✓ States must enhance their social spending on education, health, and sanitation,
which are the foundations for human resource development.
✓ A long-term solution to the problem of sub-nationalism could be to implement a
national education system that would assist people overcome regional sentiments
and build a sense of belonging to the country.
✓ The government of India has launched schemes such as "Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat"
to promote the nation's diversity culture and to strengthen sentiment for national
unity among inhabitants of states, which is a good step.

2.2 Communalism

2.2.1 Introduction
✓ The word ‘communal’ denotes "of, by, or belonging to a community's people." The
phrase 'communalism' comes from this word, which refers to loyalty to the interests of
one's own ethnic group rather than to society as a whole.
✓ But in Indian subcontinent context, it means more than that. Here, it is an aggressive
ideology that considers one's own group to be superior to others. It can also be viewed
as a religiously based political ideology.
✓ Communalism believes that religious identification takes priority over regionalism.
✓ Communalism in India began post 1857 revolt, when the British attempted to divide the
country along religious lines. They used to give preference to hindus over Muslims for

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 government jobs, which infuriated Muslims. This led to the series of events and finally
bifurcating into two nations.
✓ The sense of communalism still pertains in India which has led to the events like Anti-Sikh
riots (1984), Issue of Kashmiri Hindu pundits (1989), Babri Masjid incident (1992),
Godhra Riots (2002), Muzzafarnagar Riots (2013), etc.
✓ It is one of the major factor in hindering the social culture development of India.

2.2.2 Development Issues due to Communalism

Let us understand the different issues that arise due to the Communalism in India:

✓ Mob lynching: The term "mob lynching" refers to acts of targeted violence committed
by a large number of individuals. Violent acts are comparable to crimes against the
human body or property, both public and private.
✓ The mob feels they are punishing the victim for doing something wrong (albeit not
necessarily unlawful), and they take the law into their own hands to punish the alleged
defendant without regard for the law.
✓ Mob lynchings have a pattern and a motive, as described by the Hon'ble Supreme Court
as a "horrendous act of mobocracy."
✓ Innocent persons are frequently targeted as a result of gossip, disinformation, or
mistrust. WhatsApp is the major source for misinformation. The Indian WhatsApp
lynchings are a series of mob-related violence and killings that have occurred as a result
of rumours circulated via the WhatsApp messaging service, especially around child
abduction and organ harvesting.
✓ Killing muslims for consuming beefs and hindu sadhus have now become a common
trend in India.
✓ Mob- lynching is a serious problem in India which is creating mis-trust among the society.
People of different community feel unsafe which ultimately leads to the sole purpose for
which this concept was introduced by British in India- to break our unity on religion basis.
✓ Threat to national unity: Communalism, in its broadest definition, refers to a strong sense
of belonging to one's own community. It is interpreted as an unhealthy connection to
one's own faith in Indian popular dialogue. As a result, it promotes orthodox tenets and
ideals, as well as intolerance and hatred of other religions, dividing society.
✓ Also, when any religion gets represented in Politics exclusively, this gives rise to
Communalism. The beliefs of one religion are treated superior to another, the demands
of any particular religion are raised while others are suppressed. This thinking of
superiority deters a nation from unity. Every religion desire to form a separate political
unit.

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 ✓ There have been many cases which has led to Communal Violence. India has already
witnessed such violence in past during India Pakistan Partition. Even Post Independence
large-scale communal violence has occurred.
- Example Gujrat Riots in 2002 among Hindus and Muslims, Uttar Pradesh in
September 2013 witnessed the worst violence in recent history with clashes
between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Muzaffarnagar district.
✓ Threat to Democracy: In India Political mobilization on religious lines is frequent. The
political leaders use religion as a tool to gain votes and to get elected. The Political party
appeals or lure one particular religion over others.
✓ Due to political parties' tendency to use communal feelings for electoral benefit,
communalism has become a threat to Indian democracy.
✓ Hindu majoritarian sentiments are stoked by certain political parties. Such parties give
Hindus the impression that they are being discriminated against in India, and that
minorities are being unfairly favored. This incites animosity against minorities among the
Hindu majority.
- The destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1991 and the subsequent communal riots
in numerous regions of India are examples of the effects of such communal
politics.
✓ Other parties take use of minority sentiments and promote radical elements within
minority communities to get votes. Those radical groups, on the other hand, quickly turn
violent and begin to cause tensions between the majority and minority communities.
- For example, the ruling party's appeased radical Sikh forces in the early 1980s,
which resulted in nearly a decade of unrest in Punjab.
✓ Damage to Public Property: According to ‘Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act,
1984’ public property includes “any building, installation or other property used in
connection with the production, distribution or supply of water, light, power or energy;
any oil installation; any sewage works; any mine or factory; any means of public
transportation or of telecommunications, or any building, installation or other property
used in connection therewith”.
✓ Due to the rioters' anger, a lot of public property is damaged during communal violence.
Although there is a law called the "Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984"
that punishes anyone "who commits mischief by committing any act in respect of any
public property" with up to five years in prison and a fine or both.
- However, their influence is limited because identifying protesters is difficult,
especially in unorganized protests. Even if a person has been identified, he/she

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 could not be held liable for loss of property unless there is evidence of him/her
calling for violence.
✓ Impact on Youth: The most potent and energetic force of any nation is its youth — the
youth with all its ambitions and aspirations, enthusiasm and energy. India is no exception.
However, the youth, are facing the challenges of increasingly fascist communalism.
✓ The ugly rise of religious animosity is further build up by the fact that the youth has in
fact become a part of this. The leaders of a nation pay only lip service to the immense
potential of the youth and this brings an opportunity for the racist elements to be the
first to tap youngsters and enlist their support.
✓ There are a number of youth wings of political parties that actively seek volunteers,
actually leading them into believing that they are the true freedom fighters who are
doing a service to society, whereas they are actually pawns in a dangerous game of
power.
✓ We unconsciously tend to classify based on religion, gender, location or any trivial
distinction we find. On one hand it makes us belong to a group, and gives us a much-
needed feeling of recognition. On the other, when a narrow mindset comes into this
thought, where the belief becomes that “only we are correct” — that is when trouble
begins to brew. This has led to the difference in the community at a very young age.

2.2.3 Way Forward

✓ There is a need for reform in the current criminal justice system. Strict laws, speedy
trials and proper compensation for victims could serve as preventative measures.
✓ Using institutional mechanisms such as the Election Commission, the media, and civil
society it should be ensured that political parties do not use religion or religious ideology
in order to gain votes.
✓ In order to promote religious unity and peace, the media, cinema, and other powerful
tools should be used. The rise of social media, as well as the real-time distribution of
fake news, should be addressed in a timely manner.
✓ Religious leaders can play a significant role in disseminating ideas about religion,
philosophy, and other topics that can aid in the spread of peace across various cultures.
✓ All educational institutions should provide secular education, which will lead to the
development of harmony and cooperation among members of various communities.

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 2.3 Caste System

2.3.1 Introduction
✓ The caste system is arguably the most distinctive feature of Indian society. The Indian
population is divided into four hierarchical classes, or varnas, with a large sub-population
of untouchables excluded entirely from the system.
✓ Within each of these classes, and among the untouchables, are thousands of castes, or
jatis. The central rule in Hindu society is that individuals must marry within their own
caste. Recent genetic evidence indicates that this rule has been followed for over 2,000
years.
✓ Spatial segregation on caste lines within the village results in a high degree of local social
connectedness, with caste clusters in distant villages and select urban locations linked to
each other through ties of marriage over many generations.
✓ This unique social structure has remained in place 74 years after Independence, in one
of the world’s most dynamic economies.

2.3.2 Development Issues due to Caste System

Let us understand the different issues that arise due to the Caste System in India:

✓ Economic Mobility: It is indisputable that the lower castes were for generations trapped
in unskilled, low-paying employment in the conventional economy. In certain places,
they are still restricted to certain occupations like sanitation work, plantation work,
leather works, cleaning streets, etc.
✓ In the national interest it is essential that all the sections of the society should contribute
to the social welfare, but the downtrodden sections did not have any voice in national
development and advancement.
✓ It stands against democracy: People became too concerned of their own castes as a
consequence of the caste system, which created a conservative feeling. Caste concerns
have frequently taken priority over national interests. As a result, the entire system
worked against the concept of national unity.
✓ It results in untouchability: The terms ‘Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes’ (SC/ST)
are the official terms used in government documents to identify former untouchables
and tribes.
✓ However, in 2008 the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, noticing that the word
‘Dalit’ was used interchangeably with the official term ‘Scheduled Castes’, asked the State
Governments to end the use of the word ‘Dalit’ in official documents by calling the term
‘unconstitutional’ and to replace it with the term ‘Scheduled Caste’ instead.

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 ✓ Even today many villages are separated by caste and they may not cross the line dividing
them from the higher castes. They also may not use the same wells or drink in the same
tea stalls as higher castes.
✓ Poverty: Caste discrimination is one of the worst human in the rights abuses world
today. Caste discrimination involves massive violations of civil, political, economic, social
and cultural rights. It is often outlawed in countries affected by it, but a lack of
implementation of legislation and caste-bias within the justice systems largely leave
victims without protection.
✓ The exclusion of so-called ‘lower caste communities’ by other groups in society and the
inherent structural inequality in these social relationships lead to high levels of poverty
among affected population groups. There is little access to benefits and development
processes, and their position generally precludes involvement in decision-making and
meaningful participation in public and civil life.
✓ Hate Crimes and Honour Killing: More than 200 alleged hate crimes against
marginalized people, including 87 killings, were documented by Amnesty India’s
interactive “Halt the Hate” website in 2018. Out of them, about 65% of the crimes were
against Schedule Caste.
✓ Honour Killing is the killing of a relative, especially a girl or woman, who is perceived to
have brought dishonour on the family.
✓ Most 'honour killings' reported in our newspapers are caste killings, or killings in the
name of caste. The issue of 'honour' involves not just dominant caste families but also
others.
✓ The construct of 'honour' is meant to control women and curb their liberty, especially
with respect to the right of choosing their life partners.
✓ As per National Crime Records Bureau Data 2015, 251 honour killing cases were
reported in India. Most of the honour killing cases were reported from Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh. Punjab also has a large number of honour killings.

2.3.3 Way Forward

The Indian Government has enacted laws to remove untouchability and has also brought in
many reforms to improve the quality of life for the weaker sections of society. Few among
them are:

✓ Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights: The fundamental rights are

guaranteed to defend all citizens of India's essential human rights and are carried out by
the courts, subject to specific limitations. The Right to Equality is one of these
fundamental rights.

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 - The right to equality refers to equality in the eyes of the law, which excludes any
discrimination based on caste, race, religion, place of birth, sex.
- It also includes equality of prospects in matters of employment, abolition of
untouchability and abolition of titles.
✓ Abolition of ‘ untouchability’ in 1950: The 1950 A.D., National Constitution of India
legally abolished the practice of untouchability and provided measures for affirmative
action in both educational institutions and public services for Schedule Caste and other
social groups who lie within the caste system.
✓ Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: This act was
enacted to prevent atrocities against members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes, to establish Special Courts for the trial of such offenses, to provide relief and
rehabilitation to victims of such offenses, and to provide for matters connected with or
incidental to such wrongdoings.
✓ Provision of reservation in places like educational institutions, for employment
opportunities etc.: Scheduled Castes (SC) are given 15% quota in jobs/higher educational
institutions while Schedule Tribes (ST) are given 7.5% quota in jobs/higher educational
institutions. This is done to uplift the backward classes in terms of social status.
✓ Establishing social welfare departments and national commissions for the welfare of
scheduled castes and tribes.
✓ We indeed have a long way to go in achieving the objectives set to eradicate and abolish
discrimination, on the basis of caste and creed. It now depends on our efforts and a
change in our mindset is sure to see a perpetual change, bringing about equality for all.

2.4 Issues related to women

2.4.1 Introduction
✓ The world we live in is based on an established social framework that favors men in all
aspects of life, whether professional or personal. A patriarchal societal system, in which
the rule makers are primarily men, is guaranteed to exist in a male-dominated society,
and this, unfortunately, is the problem.
✓ Women are not considered members of society, and the regulations enacted solely
benefit men, because decision-makers and the structure underneath them are male-
dominated.
✓ Although, India has certainly come a long way in working to improve women’s lives, the
fight for women’s equality and well-being is far from over. Violence against women,
gender discrimination, and the wage gap are three major challenges, of many, which
need to be worked towards ending.

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 ✓ An integrated approach is needed along with women-centric policy making where
women are not treated as passive beneficiaries but are seen as potential contributors to
society.

2.4.2 Development Issues faced

Let us understand the different issues faced by women in India:

✓ Domestic Violence: Violence against women is one of the biggest and most dangerous
issues facing Indian women today. In a study done in India, on about 10000 women, 26
per cent reported having experienced physical violence from spouses during their
lifetime.
✓ Violence against women, especially domestic violence, often goes unreported due to a
lack of resources and the reality of the failure of various health and safety institutions to
properly assist victims.
✓ Violence against women not only affects women’s physical health, but also has
disastrous effects on their mental health as well. PTSD, depression, and suicide are just
a few of the mental effects that the rampant violence against women causes.
✓ In fact, during the crisis of Covid-19, several international organizations took cognizance
of a global rise in Domestic Violence (DV) cases as a result of physical distancing
regulations and its subsequent lockdowns. Many countries reported a 15-30% hike in the
number of distress calls received from women who were confined in closed spaces with
abusive partners.
✓ Gender Discrimination: Gender discrimination is another major challenge which needs to
be addressed in India. An estimated 239,000 girls under the age of five die in India each
year due to neglect linked gender discrimination. Part of these deaths includes infant
girls, as there is a preference for sons in Indian society. A lack of proper healthcare,
nutrition, and vaccinations given to girls is also a big part of this neglect.
✓ Wage Gap: According to the Monster Salary Index (MSI) published in March 2019, women
in India earn 19% less than men. The survey revealed that the median gross hourly salary
for men in India in 2018 was ₹242.49 and just ₹196.3 for women, meaning that men
earned ₹46.19 more on average. Women not only earn less than men for the same jobs,
but they also are often employed in lower paying jobs due to employment discrimination
and lack of access to the same education as men.
✓ Social Harrasement: Gender roles are set, how a woman speaks, dresses and chooses a
way to live her life is also decided by someone who is not a woman but still perceive to
have some sort of power over women.

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 ✓ Some rules that the women are expected to abide by, they must be accommodating, and
they should always compromise even when they are in an unhappy and unsafe
environment there is no safe place for women to seek help, and they should learn all the
domestic chores.
✓ The consequences of all these rules are increased rapes, sexual harassment, subjection
to child marriage, women become victims of marital rape and when a woman speaks up
against any harassment as an act of revenge the harasser throws acid on her. Young girls
go missing due to child trafficking and are forced to grow up in a harsher environment
that can even be life-threatening.
✓ Dowry: The problem of dowry, where the girl’s family has to give a large amount to the
groom’s family is an age-old and regressive problem that still prevails. Due to the inability
of providing dowry, many families abandon the girl child and female foeticide is at an all-
time high.
✓ Most girls in rural areas are also killed by their own families in the name of honour and
reputation being hampered when she chooses to marry according to her own will. In
2020, reported dowry death cases in India amounted to nearly seven thousand.
✓ Feminization in Agriculture: Although agriculture sector employs 80% of all
economically active women; they comprise 33% of the agricultural labour force and
48% of self-employed farmers. But still they have to face a lot pf hardships such as
• Lack of ownership of land
• Lack of access to financial credit
• Lack of access to resources and modern inputs (most farm machinery is difficult for
women to operate)
• Increased work burden (on-farm and off-farm productive activities) with lower
compensation

2.4.3 Way forward

✓ In order to work to combat domestic violence and its consequences, there needs to be
greater access to health and mental health resources given to women in India as well as
advocacy and education provided to women on how to report violence and seek safety
as well as to all Indians on how to help women experiencing violence.
✓ While work has been put into providing better political rights and employment
opportunities towards women, more attention needs to be drawn towards combating
the cultural and societal standards that result in girls dying before they can even reach
adulthood.
✓ A combination of expansion in women’s access to education and enforcement of strong
wage equality and hiring laws is needed to help combat this issue.

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 ✓ People should also raise their voice against the horrendous crime of child marriage and
sexual harassment, and try to challenge such events and do their best to stop them.
- The government also should take steps in punishing those who practice these.
Making education gender-sensitive can be a very positive first step towards
giving girls equal rights and opportunities in society.
✓ It can be done by ensuring that the school textbooks promote positive stereotypes, have
information about women leaders and activities that can bridge the gap between men
and women.
✓ Government has increased its focus on women self-help group (SHG) to connect them to
micro-credit through capacity building activities and to provide information and ensuring
their representation in different decision-making bodies.

2.5 Substance Abuse

2.5.1 Introduction
✓ In India, the crisis of substance misuse among the youth has reached worrisome
proportions. Changing cultural values, rising economic hardship, and weakening
supportive bonds are all contributing to the onset of substance abuse.
✓ Substance abuse is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "permanent or
sporadic drug use that is inconsistent with or unrelated to accepted medical practice."
✓ According to a UN report, One million heroin addicts are registered in India, and
unofficially there are as many as five million. What started off as casual use among a
minuscule population of high-income group youth in the metro has permeated to all
sections of society.
✓ Inhalation of heroin alone has given way to intravenous drug use, that too in combination
with other sedatives and painkillers. This has increased the intensity of the effect,
hastened the process of addiction and complicated the process of recovery.
✓ India reported almost 2.3 crore opioid users in 2018, which was a five-fold jump in 14
years. About 2.8 per cent of the population (3.1 crore) are reported to be cannabis users.
Of them, 1.3 crore (1.2 per cent) use its illicit products, ganja and charas, while the rest
use bhang. The highest number of cannabis users is in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim,
Chhattisgarh and Delhi.

2.5.2 Development Issues Faced due to the Substance Abuse

Let us understand the different issues faced due to Substance Abuse in India:

✓ Increase in the crime rate: Drug abuse has led to a detrimental impact on the society. It
has led to increase in the crime rate. Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs

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 remove inhibition and impair judgment egging one on to commit offences. Incidences
of teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse.
✓ Punjab recorded 38.5 per cent crime rate (per lakh population), highest in the country
in cases registered under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985.
✓ Loss of Human Resources: Apart from affecting the financial stability, addiction
increases conflicts and causes untold emotional pain for every member of the family.
With most drug users being in the productive age group of 18-35 years, the loss in terms
of human potential is incalculable.
✓ The damage to the physical, psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the youth
is very high.
✓ Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern in adolescent and young
people’s behavior. It is estimated that, in India, by the time most boys reach the ninth
grade, about 50 percent of them have tried at least one of the substance of abuse
nature.
✓ Burden on Health Care System: Increase in incidences of HIV, hepatitis B and C and
tuberculosis due to addiction adds the reservoir of infection in the community
burdening the health care system further. Women in India face greater problems from
drug abuse. The consequences include domestic violence and infection with HIV, as well
as the financial burden.

2.5.3 Way Forward

✓ The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, were enacted with stringent
provisions to curb this menace. The Act envisages a minimum term of 10 years
imprisonment extendable to 20 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh extendable up to Rs. 2 lakhs
for the offenders.
✓ Comprehensive strategy involving specific programmes to bring about an overall
reduction in use of drugs has been evolved by the various government agencies and
NGOs and is further supplemented by measures like education, counseling, treatment
and rehabilitation programmes.
✓ Substance abuse can be addressed at the individual level, at the local level (society,
national, etc.) and at the cross-national level. At the individual level, there has to be a
synthesis of biological understanding with the exploration of background sociocultural
factors.
✓ At the national and cross-national level, there has to be a concerted effort of all the
countries in managing the issue of substance abuse, taking into account the local socio-
cultural and political scenarios.

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