PM Modi likely to lead 12 crore citizens in taking pledge against drug abuse on Aug 18
New Delhi, July 10
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to lead more than 12 crore citizens, through both physical and online mode, in taking a National Mass Pledge Against Drug Abuse on August 18 to mark the sixth anniversary of the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan', an official said on Friday.
The nationwide mass pledge will be organised by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and a strategy meeting to ensure the participation of the target number of citizens was discussed at a coordination meeting here, a statement said.
Joint Secretary (Drug Prevention) Sandeep Rewaji Rathod chaired the coordination meeting with representatives from various Ministries and departments to finalise the implementation strategy.
The meeting discussed the plan and the comprehensive strategy to ensure the participation of the target number of citizens in nationwide pledge through physical and online mode in line with the objectives of NMBA.
The meeting discussed the role of Line Ministries and Departments in mobilising officers, officials, students, parents, volunteers and other stakeholders for the nationwide pledge.
Rathod also discussed organising pledge ceremonies across all affiliated offices, educational institutions, autonomous bodies, PSUs and field formations under respective Ministries and Departments, including Railway, Defence, Police, Central armed Police Force, AYUSH, Rural Development, Revenue, besides social, voluntary, spiritual organisations and social influencers.
The nomination of nodal officers for coordination with the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and Uniform Reporting Mechanism for submission of participation details and outreach, was also discussed in the meeting.
A power point presentation on the plan and coordinated strategy, was discussed threadbare which witnessed active deliberations by all the representatives from the Line Departments and the Ministries, the statement added.
The NMBA Pledge is an initiative to volunteer for reaching out to the victims of drug addiction.
The pledge aims to encourage responsible behaviour to instil a sense of responsibility among people to stay away from drugs, to promote and foster sense of unity and commitment for encouraging stakeholders to work together towards a common goal.
The pledge also seeks to empower youth to contribute actively to developing a drug-free society, the statement said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting initiative. I wonder how they'll verify the 12 crore target—seems ambitious. But any effort to address drug abuse is better than nothing. Hope they also focus on border security since a lot of drugs come from across the border.
As a teacher, I see the impact of drug abuse on students every day. This pledge can create awareness, but we need sustained efforts—counseling in schools, stricter laws for peddlers, and better job opportunities for youth. Pledges alone won't solve this deep-rooted problem. Still, good first step! 🙏
Honestly, I'm skeptical. We've had so many anti-drug campaigns before, but ground reality hasn't changed much. The real issue is the supply chain—drugs coming from Myanmar and Afghanistan via Pakistan. Seal the borders, catch the kingpins, then we'll talk. But at least this is some awareness.
Great to see the involvement of multiple ministries—Railways, Defence, Police, Education—everyone has a role. My brother lost his friend to drug overdose in college, so this is personal for me. I'll definitely take the pledge and encourage my family too. Nasha Mukt Bharat! 💪
The coordination meeting sounds well-planned, but I hope they also involve local communities and NGOs who work on the ground. Also, what about de-addiction centers? Are they equipped to handle the demand? Pledges are fine, but the government must allocate more budget for treatment and mental health support.
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