An Overview of Opium Production Policy in India

The Indian States like, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are bigger cultivators/ producer of opium in the country. The Indian Government issued a licence to Cultivators, under the licence cultivators and government are in agreement. According to the government the Cultivators share their production according to norms prescribed by Indian Government. But it has been seen in last few years the there is an increasing tendency of illegal opium cultivation and black marketing thereof. The opium production being supplied in black market which is ultimate cause of drug abuse among youth in the country. India is the nation known for licensed opium production on the world map. Though it is intended to be produced for the scientific and medicinal purpose but due to certain reasons its supply have registered the diversion in black market in India. The fact becomes more important in circumstances when the statistics have recorded the ascending involvement of juveniles in the cases registered under the NDPS Act. This study reveals the lacunas in production policy of opium in India, narcotic administration in country, and increasing criminal tendency of youths and their participation in offences under NDPS Act.