New Delhi, 02 August (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan', a nationwide initiative aimed at mobilising young people against substance abuse and promoting a healthier, addiction-free society. Launched through video conferencing, the campaign marks the beginning of a 100-week nationwide Jan Bhagidari movement designed to encourage sustained public participation in the fight against drug addiction.

Addressing thousands of participants from across the country, the Prime Minister described India's youth as the nation's greatest strength and said their physical and mental well-being would play a decisive role in achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.

He urged young people to stay away from drugs, saying substance abuse weakens concentration, distances individuals from their aspirations, and ultimately harms the country's future. He encouraged the youth to channel their energy towards education, innovation, sports, entrepreneurship, and nation-building.

Prime Minister Modi said the campaign is not limited to young people alone but is a movement involving families, educational institutions, civil society organisations, community groups, and the nation as a whole. He stressed that eliminating drug abuse requires collective responsibility and continuous public participation.

The campaign will run for 100 consecutive weeks, during which awareness and community engagement programmes will be organised every Sunday across the country. The initiative aims to transform the fight against substance abuse into a nationwide people's movement while encouraging young citizens to become ambassadors of positive social change.

A series of activities has been planned under the campaign, including sports competitions, walkathons, yoga and meditation sessions, cultural programmes, awareness rallies, street plays, discussions, art competitions, and community outreach initiatives. These programmes are intended to spread awareness about the harmful effects of drug addiction while promoting healthy lifestyles and active community involvement.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of creating an environment in which young people are empowered to pursue their dreams without falling victim to addiction. He said a strong, healthy, and confident youth population is essential for India's long-term economic and social progress.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya also addressed the launch programme and said the initiative builds upon the ongoing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. He noted that the campaign seeks to deepen public participation by involving educational institutions, youth organisations, voluntary groups, industry bodies, and local communities in the nationwide effort to eradicate substance abuse.

The programme witnessed virtual participation from more than 10,000 locations across India. Volunteers from MY Bharat, the National Service Scheme (NSS), youth clubs, schools, colleges, universities, non-governmental organisations, industry associations, and representatives of over 125 partner spiritual organisations joined the launch event.

Officials said the campaign will continue for nearly two years with regular weekly activities focused on awareness, prevention, community engagement, and youth leadership, reinforcing the government's broader vision of building a healthy, empowered, and developed India.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar