The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India, presents the National Awards for Outstanding Services in the Field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse. The awards are designed to recognize and encourage excellence among institutions and individuals working in the prevention of alcohol, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and other addictive substances (excluding tobacco and its products). The awards aim to honor outstanding contributions in awareness, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and advocacy, and are presented every two years starting from 2016.
Benefits
- Award Package:
- Decoration: Citation and memento
- Cash Award: ₹2,00,000
- Number of Awardees:
- A total of 7 awardees, with one awardee per category.
- Presentation Ceremony:
- The awards are conferred in a ceremony held in New Delhi on June 26th, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
- The awards are presented by either the President or the Prime Minister of India.
- Boarding, lodging (including one companion per awardee), and travel expenses (to and fro, including accommodation for one day prior and one day after the ceremony) are borne by the Central Government.
- Concurrence of the prospective awardees/institutions is confirmed prior to the announcement of the awards.
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to All:
- All Indian institutions, organizations, and individuals are eligible regardless of religion, race, sex, caste, or creed.
- Nomination Requirements:
- Nominations must be submitted in writing by an authorized person or agency. Self-nominations are not accepted.
- Previous Awards:
- Any individual or organization that has received an award under this scheme is ineligible for the next three award cycles.
- Categories:
- Awards are presented for outstanding service in preventing the abuse of:
- Alcohol
- Narcotic Drugs
- Psychotropic Substances
- Other Addictive Substances (such as cough syrups, correction fluid, etc.)
- Awards are presented for outstanding service in preventing the abuse of:
Nomination Process & Authorized Nominators
Only nominations or recommendations from authorized agencies or persons are considered. Authorized nominators include:
- Concerned Ministries or Departments of the Government of India (with ministerial approval)
- State Governments or Union Territory Administrations (with approval from the Chief Minister or Lt. Governor)
- Regional Resource and Training Centres in the field of drug de-addiction
- Members of the National Consultative Committee on De-addiction and Rehabilitation (NCCDR)
- Renowned Apex Chambers and industry bodies such as FICCI, CII, and others
- Past awardees and recognized educational or research institutions (e.g., UGC, AICTE, MCI, CBSE, NCERT)
- Local administrative heads such as District Collectors or Commissioners
For Nominations
- Outstanding Awareness Campaigns:
- Institutions (other than educational institutions) may be nominated if they have consistently executed comprehensive and effective awareness campaigns addressing alcohol and drug abuse.
- Innovative Contributions:
- Nominated organizations/institutions must have demonstrated innovation in awareness programs, cost-effective methods for demand reduction, extensive media visibility, and effective internal policies promoting a drug- and alcohol-free environment.
Application Process
- Online Submission:
- Authorized agencies or persons must submit the nomination application in the prescribed proforma via the National Awards Portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Language Requirement:
- The application must be submitted in either Hindi or English.
Selection Process
- Screening & Selection Committees:
- A Screening Committee will evaluate the nominations based on the nominee’s achievements and contributions.
- A National Selection Committee will then review the recommendations and approve one awardee per category.
- Key Considerations:
- Outstanding contributions in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and advocacy in the field of alcohol and substance abuse.
Documents Required for Individuals
- Proof of Identity:
- Passport, Election ID Card, Government-authorized ID, Driving License, or PAN Card.
- Date of Birth Certificate
- Educational and Professional Credentials:
- Passing certificates, marksheets, or other relevant documents.
- Professional Experience:
- Details of posts held in relation to alcohol or drug use (government, NGO, voluntary, corporate, or private roles; specify whether positions were honorary or paid).
- Publications and Contributions:
- Books, articles, or other publications evidencing contributions.
- Proof of Awards/Honors:
- Details of previous recognitions, including awarding agencies and years.
- Detailed Account of Achievements:
- Description of work in awareness generation, prevention, treatment, training, research, advocacy, including duration and geographical areas of work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How many times is this award presented in a year?
- The awards are presented once every two years.
- For what achievements is this award conferred?
- For outstanding contributions in the prevention of alcoholism and substance (drug) abuse, including awareness campaigns, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts.
- What are the objectives of presenting this award?
- To recognize and encourage excellence in preventing substance abuse and to promote rehabilitation efforts.
- What is meant by “other addictive substances”?
- This includes items like cough syrups, correction fluids, etc., excluding tobacco and its products.
- Which is the nodal ministry for drug demand reduction?
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal ministry.
- What are the responsibilities of the MoSJE in this regard?
- The ministry coordinates drug abuse prevention efforts including assessment, preventive actions, treatment, rehabilitation, and public education.
- Which day is declared as the “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”?
- June 26th.
- Where can I find the PDF of the scheme guidelines and user manual of the application process?
- These are available on the official portals and the guidelines document.
- Who can become a nominee for this award?
- Indian institutions, organizations, and individuals working in the field of prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse, nominated by an authorized entity.
- Is there any preference given to a particular section of society?
- No, the awards are open without discrimination on any grounds.
- Can an entity self-nominate?
- No, self-nominations are not considered.
- Can the nominee put forward the nomination themselves?
- No, nominations must be submitted by an authorized agency or person.
- When can an individual be considered again if previously awarded?
- An individual or organization is not eligible for the National Award under this scheme for the next three award cycles after receiving an award.