Drugs-free youth crucial for developed India, says PM Modi
Blazing Tales News Service
NEW DELHI, AUGUST: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’, calling for a nationwide movement against drug abuse and asserting that a healthy, drug-free youth population is essential to achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047.
Addressing the launch programme virtually, Modi said India’s demographic strength could become its greatest asset only if young people remained physically and mentally fit and stayed away from substance abuse.
“As India has set the goal of becoming a developed country, it is essential for the youth to remain physically and mentally fit, and therefore stay away from drug abuse,” he said.
The nationwide campaign, backed by more than 125 spiritual organisations, educational institutions, industrial associations and public bodies, was organised at over 28,000 locations across the country. More than one crore young people participated, while several Chief Ministers and Governors also joined the initiative. Participants took a pledge to work towards making India drug-free.
The Prime Minister announced that the campaign would continue for the next 100 weeks, with activities every Sunday focusing on sports, art, culture, meditation, spirituality and community service to spread awareness about the dangers of drug addiction.
Highlighting the role of youth in nation-building, Modi said today’s young generation would lead India into the era of a developed nation and would be the primary beneficiaries of that achievement by 2047.
He noted that Indian youth were excelling in startups, artificial intelligence, sports, science and space, and said the country needed their energy, innovation and talent to realise its development goals.
Warning against the growing menace of drug abuse, the Prime Minister said addiction destroys individual aspirations, breaks families and weakens society. He also alleged that hostile forces use drug trafficking as a means to undermine the country’s future by targeting its youth.
Modi urged families not to hide cases of addiction and instead seek timely professional help. He said rehabilitation centres had been established across the country to help affected individuals recover and rebuild their lives.
“A person who defeats addiction is a true warrior. Society should respect them and give them a second chance. Their past with drugs should never define their identity; their courage should,” he said.
Referring to the government’s crackdown on narcotics, the Prime Minister said enforcement agencies had intensified action against drug traffickers, resulting in a sharp increase in arrests and the seizure of narcotics worth thousands of crores of rupees.
Expressing confidence in the campaign, Modi said coordinated efforts by the Union and State governments, along with active public participation, would strengthen the fight against drug abuse and help build a healthier and stronger India.
