Bhubaneswar, Aug 3 (UDN): Odisha on Sunday joined the Centre’s nationwide ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’, a 100-week campaign aimed at encouraging a drug-free lifestyle among the country’s youth and fostering greater public awareness against substance abuse.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the campaign through video conferencing, calling for collective efforts to protect young people from addiction and strengthen the foundation of a developed India. The programme witnessed virtual participation from Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The campaign is primarily focused on individuals in the 18-30 age group, identified as one of the most vulnerable sections to drug and tobacco addiction. The Centre said substance abuse not only affects individual health but also weakens families and poses challenges to the country’s social and economic development.
As part of the initiative, awareness programmes will be organised every Sunday across the country over the next 100 weeks. The campaign will feature sports competitions, walkathons, yoga and meditation sessions, cultural events, street plays, awareness rallies, panel discussions and creative competitions to promote a healthy, addiction-free lifestyle.
Alongside the national initiative, the Odisha government launched its own awareness campaign titled ‘Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life and Progress’.
Reaffirming the state’s stand against narcotics, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the government would continue its zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs and intensify action against trafficking networks.
“The State government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against illegal drugs, and stringent action will continue against those involved in drug trafficking,” Majhi said during the launch.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati appealed to young people to stay away from addiction and devote themselves to education, sports and nation-building. He urged the youth to make classrooms and playgrounds their preferred spaces for growth and self-development.
According to government data, nearly 1.7 million people lose their lives annually in India due to substance-related causes, with tobacco consumption accounting for the largest share of such deaths.
Officials said the campaign aims to transform the fight against drug abuse into a nationwide people’s movement through sustained public participation and community engagement over the next 100 weeks.
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