Drug Menace
Drug abuse– refers to the illicit drugs, non-medicinal use of several substances which includes cannabis, opium, heroin, cocaine. According to the recent report 2020, 3.2% of the Himachal Pradesh population use charas, ganja which is above average.
Causes of drug abuse-
Biological factor-
- Family history and genetic susceptibility
- Personality disorder or medical disorder
- Reinforcing effect of drugs
Social factor-
- Peer pressure
- Easy availability of alcohol and drugs
- Romanticization of drugs by social media
- Lack of social and familial support
- A national survey by the Ministry of social justice empowerment found that 29% of drug abuse are illiterates.
Psychological factor-
- Poor stress management
- Lack of care in modern families
Economic factors-
- Poverty and unemployment
- Work stress and financial worries
Consequences of drug abuse-
Anti-social activities in society have been resulting in drug menace-
- Increasing school and college dropout rate
- Domestic violence
- Theft and snatching activities
- Enhance crime rate
- Encourage rehabilitation services
- Health-related problems
- Drug abuse is the fastest way to spread HIV through sharing of needles
Drug Trafficking- refers to global illicit trade of drugs involving cultivation, manufacturing, distribution of substances.
Steps taken by HP government to curb drug menace/ trafficking-
- HP government has inaugurated a Drug addiction center (DAC) at New Shimla
- ‘Nasha Nivaran’ mobile app – anyone can register a complaint against the drug dealer through the mobile app.
- ‘Jan Andolan’ campaign- is a collective mass movement of people, government officials, NGO, SHG to create awareness among the people regarding the ill-effects of drug abuse.
- ‘Narcotic cell’ constituted in the intelligence wing to check cultivation, smuggling, use of narcotic drugs.
Detect mechanism to drug menace/trafficking-
- Conduct joint police operation and police patrolling (b/w HP, Punjab, Haryana) across the inter-state as well as inter-district.
- With the help of local informers i.e. Mahila Mandal, Yuvak Mandal, SHG, NGO can determine drug peddlers.
- Use of technology like drones, GIS, CCTV, fingerprints.
- With the help of sniffer dogs & drug detection squads.
- Destruction of illicit crops such as cannabis, opium to cut down the supply of drug abuse.
Challenges of drug trafficking in HP-
- Border of HP connect with Punjab, JK- These states have become a market for drug supplying from the golden crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan).
- Being a tourist hotspot- Drug supplying network from the golden triangle, Israel has also become active in Kullu, Kinnaur, Shimla, Mandi region.
- Foreign African students- some foreign African students study in HP college, institutions are too indulged in drug peddlers’ activities.
- Poor law and order situation- especially in inter-district as well as interstates borders which increases the case of drug menace.
Cyber-crime
Cybercrime– is a crime that involves computers and networks. The computer may be used to commit a crime such as stealing identities, cyberbullying, child pornography, ATM card fraud, online fraud, data breach, etc.
Sector/Field- Although banking and telecommunication are the most attacked sector but health care, manufacturing, education sector have too faced a significant number of cyber-attack.
Type of cyber-attack-
- Phishing- It is type of fraud that involves personal information such as customer id, credit/debit card number, CVV number using e-mail & website.
- Vishing- Type of fraud which involves stealing personal information such like net banking, ATM pin, OTT, CVV number through mobile phone.
- Malware- A kind of malicious software that is designed to cause damage to single computer, server or computer network.
Example- spyware, ransomware virus, Trojans etc.
- Child pornography ( child sexually abusive material)- refers to a material containing sexual images in any form, of a child who is abused or sexually exploited
Step taken by HP government to combat cyber-crime-
- HP launches ‘state cyber-crime police station’ in Shimla district to deal with high tech cyber criminals.
- Himachal Pradesh develop ‘cyber lab’ for speedy investigation, analysis of voice recording, computer files, digital data.
- Himachal Pradesh launches awareness campaign in school & college to educate the students regarding cyber laws.
- ‘Cyber Swachhta Kendra’( Malware analysis center) is part of the government of digital India initiative to create a secure cyber space by detecting malware infection.
IT policy act 2000– The following act lists down as offences-
- Tampering with computer source documents
- Hacking with computer system
- Act of cyber-terrorism i.e. intention of threating the unity, integrity, sovereignty, security of state and nation.
Crime and criminal tracking network & systems (CCTNS)-
- Himachal Pradesh link its police posts in various district with ‘Crime and criminal tracking network & systems’ (CCTNS).
- To bring best technical support under one roof at the centre for cyber security.
Challenges in cyber security-
- Lack of cyber security specialists and expertise – dependency on foreign players for cyber security tools.
- Inadequate proper security infrastructure devices to combat cyber-attack.
- Lack of cyber awareness among people regarding cyber-crime.
- Increased use of mobile technology and internet by people.
External challenges-
- Such as growing influence of China’s investment on telecom, start up in India which can make easy to getting personal information of people and deliver to third party.
- Increased use of cyber-space by terrorist to get information of confidential program, plan, secrets both state and national government.
Read also:
- Growth of Industrial areas and types of Industries in Himachal Pradesh
- Tribal welfare administration, Tribal sub-plan, and Single-line administration in Himachal Pradesh
- Medicinal and Aromatic plants resources of the State of Himachal Pradesh
- Tax base, Pros and Cons of Special Category status of Himachal Pradesh
- Skilled / Unskilled labour in Himachal Pradesh – HPAS Mains