SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’, calling upon young people to lead a nationwide movement against substance abuse and asserting that a developed India cannot be achieved without a healthy, confident and drug-free youth.
Addressing a nationwide video conference, Modi interacted with more than one crore participants connected from over 28,000 locations across the country. The event brought together students, NSS volunteers, My Bharat volunteers and representatives of several social and spiritual organisations.
Describing the campaign as a national mission rather than a government programme, Modi urged citizens, particularly young people, to become active participants in the fight against drug addiction.
“Today, as the nation has set the goal of a Viksit Bharat, it is imperative that the country’s youth remain physically and mentally fit, brimming with self-confidence, and permanently steer clear of destructive habits like drugs,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the campaign had evolved from a pilot initiative launched in Varanasi last year into a nationwide movement backed by more than 125 spiritual organisations and several non-governmental organisations under the Kashi Declaration.
He said the initiative would run for 100 weeks, with activities scheduled every Sunday, including sports, cultural programmes, meditation and awareness campaigns aimed at keeping young people engaged while spreading the message against drug abuse.
Calling India’s youth the “Amrit generation”, Modi said they were driving the country’s achievements in sectors such as startups, artificial intelligence, sports and space, but warned that addiction could destroy careers, families and the nation’s collective strength.
“Drugs may offer a temporary high, but they result in a permanent setback to life,” he said, adding that substance abuse not only ruins individuals but also inflicts emotional and financial distress on families.
The Prime Minister appealed to parents to seek medical help for children struggling with addiction instead of treating it as a matter of social stigma. He also highlighted the role of yoga, meditation, rehabilitation centres and community support in helping addicts recover.
“If a youth has mistakenly fallen into addiction, it does not mean all paths are closed for them,” Modi said, urging society to welcome and support those who overcome addiction rather than isolate them.
He also called upon colleges and universities to integrate awareness programmes on drug abuse into campus activities and encouraged teachers to play a more active role in prevention efforts.
Highlighting the government’s anti-narcotics drive, Modi said enforcement agencies had intensified action against drug trafficking networks, resulting in large-scale seizures and arrests across the country.
Expressing confidence in the success of the campaign, the Prime Minister urged every citizen to contribute towards creating a drug-free India.
“I urge every citizen, especially our youth, to join this movement. By staying free from addiction, our young people will protect their energy and take forward the resolve of building a Viksit Bharat,” he said.
