"Healthy citizens build a healthy society": Mansukh Mandaviya at 'Nasha Mukta Yuva' campaign launch
New Delhi, August 2
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said a healthy population is essential for building a prosperous nation.
Speaking at an event in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan', a nationwide campaign aimed at encouraging youth to stay away from substance abuse, Mandaviya called for realising the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.
"For a nation to become prosperous, it is essential for its citizens to be healthy; healthy citizens build a healthy society, and a healthy society builds a prosperous nation," Mandaviya said.
He recalled PM Modi's commitment towards making India drug-free.
PM Modi launched 'Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' through video conferencing on Sunday. The initiative seeks to inspire young people to stay away from substance abuse and encourage them to become ambassadors of positive social change in their communities.
The launch marks the beginning of a 100-week nationwide Jan Bhagidari campaign against substance abuse, under which weekly activities will be organised every Sunday across the country to promote awareness and public participation in building a drug-free society.
The campaign will feature sports events, walkathons, meditation sessions, cultural programmes, awareness drives, nukkad nataks, discussion forums, art competitions and community engagement programmes.
The initiative aims to bring educational institutions, youth organisations, civil society groups, industry bodies and spiritual organisations together on a common platform to strengthen the collective movement against substance abuse.
The programme saw participation from youth at more than 10,000 locations across the country, with MY Bharat volunteers, National Service Scheme volunteers, youth clubs, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs and youth wings of industry associations joining virtually.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a college professor, I see the impact of substance abuse on students every day. This initiative gives me hope. The idea of making youth ambassadors of positive change is powerful - peer influence works better than any lecture. I've already registered my college for the awareness drives. ❤️
Good initiative, but let's be practical. We've seen many campaigns come and go. What we need is rehabilitation centers in every district, not just awareness programs. My cousin lost 10 years of his life to addiction - awareness would have helped, but access to proper treatment is what saved him eventually. Just my honest opinion.
Meditation sessions and sports events are exactly what our youth need! The pressure of exams, unemployment, and social media comparison drives many young people towards drugs. This holistic approach - combining physical activity with mental wellness - is brilliant. Kudos to PM Modi and the team for this vision. 🙏
"Healthy citizens build a healthy society" - such a simple yet profound statement. But let's also talk about the fact that many youth turn to substances because of unemployment and hopelessness. While this campaign is welcome, we need parallel efforts on job creation and skill development. A holistic approach includes economic empowerment.
So proud to see 10,000+ locations participating! I was part of the walkathon in my city today and the energy was incredible. Young people are hungry for positive outlets - we just need to provide them. The 100-week format keeps the momentum going instead of being a one-day event. This could genuinely change
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