National Awards for Outstanding Services in The Field of Prevention of Alcoholism And Substance (Drug) Abuse: Outstanding Achievement by An Individual is a central government scheme that honors dedicated individuals for their good work in drug abuse prevention and victim rehabilitation. Winners receive a citation, a memento, and a cash reward of ₹ 2,00,000.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs this award scheme to encourage and mark the best efforts in dealing with substance abuse. The awards are presented once every two years, and the ceremony is usually held on 26th June, which is observed worldwide as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
National Awards for Outstanding Services in The Field of Prevention of Alcoholism And Substance (Drug) Abuse - Introduction
The scheme celebrates the efforts of individuals who give their time and energy to prevent drug-related problems, treat people who are addicted, and help victims start a new life. As the nodal ministry, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment handles the whole process of drug demand reduction, including policy-making, treatment support, and public education.
Awards recognize contributions in the prevention of:
- Alcohol
- Narcotic drugs
- Psychotropic substances
- Other addictive substances, such as cough syrups or correction fluids, excluding tobacco products
Key Information
| Scheme Name | National Awards for Outstanding Services in The Field of Prevention of Alcoholism And Substance (Drug) Abuse: Outstanding Achievement by An Individual |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Infra |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Social welfare & Empowerment |
| Target Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Sub Category | Rehabilitation |
| Benefit Type | Composite |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Nodal Department | Department of Social Justice & Empowerment |
Benefits
Each recipient is honored with a Citation, a Memento, and a significant cash award of ₹ 2,00,000. There are 7 awards in total, with one dedicated award for each category to recognize individual and institutional excellence.
The awards are conferred during a dedicated function held in New Delhi on 26th June. The President or Prime Minister of India typically presents these prestigious awards. The Central Government covers all boarding and lodging expenses for awardees and one companion, and travel costs and accommodation around the ceremony are also arranged or reimbursed by the government.
Eligibility
Applicants should be Indian citizens or institutions working in the field of substance abuse prevention. Awards are open to all without discrimination based on religion, race, sex, caste, or creed. A qualified authority must recommend the applicant in writing, as self-nominations are not accepted. Anyone who has previously received this national award cannot be nominated again for the next three award cycles.
Only recommendations from specific authorized bodies are considered, such as:
- Central Government Ministries or Departments, or State Governments and Union Territory Administrations
- Regional Resource and Training Centres in the de-addiction field
- Members of the National Consultative Committee on De-addiction and Rehabilitation (NCCDR)
- Apex chambers like FICCI, CII, or ASSOCHAM, past awardees, and academic bodies like UGC, AICTE, CBSE, NCERT, or CSIR
- District Magistrates or Commissioners of the region where the work is conducted
Application Process
Nominations are submitted through the official National Awards Portal and the process is completed fully online. For example, if Ramesh is a dedicated social worker, an authorized agency like his local District Magistrate should submit the nomination on his behalf following the official guidelines.
STEP 1 - Check that the candidate or institution meets the eligibility criteria and has not won the award in the last three cycles.
STEP 2 - Contact an authorized nominating agency, such as a district magistrate, a line ministry, or a recognized chamber, and get a written recommendation.
STEP 3 - Gather the required documents listed below and submit the nomination online through the National Awards Portal at awards.gov.in.
STEP 4 - A designated Screening Committee reviews the achievements and contribution to the field.
STEP 5 - A National Selection Committee finally approves the recipients based on the excellence of their work in drug demand reduction and community rehabilitation.
Documents
Applicants must be ready with the following documents when the nomination is submitted:
- Valid identity proof such as Passport, Voter ID, Aadhaar, or Driving License, and a Date of Birth certificate
- Educational qualification certificates and a detailed record of professional experience in drug de-addiction, clearly listing the nature of the roles held
- Copies of publications, books, or articles, evidence of notable community contributions, and details of previous awards or honors received
- A comprehensive overview of achievements in awareness, prevention, treatment, training, or research
References
Access the official Scheme Guidelines
Explore Awardpedia for more details
FAQ's
How frequently is this award conferred?
The awards are presented once every two years, normally on 26th June.
What is the primary focus of this award?
It honors outstanding services in the prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse, along with the rehabilitation of victims.
Who can nominate a candidate?
Nominations must come from authorized agencies like government departments, district magistrates, or established industry chambers. Self-nominations are not permitted.
Are there any discriminatory criteria for applicants?
No, the awards are open to all Indian citizens and institutions regardless of religion, caste, sex, or creed.
What does the term other addictive substances mean?
It refers to substances such as cough syrups or correction fluids that are misused for intoxication, excluding tobacco and its products.
Can a previous winner apply again?
No, a winner cannot be considered for the award for the next three cycles after receiving one.