‘Drug-Free Youth’ Is Vital For Viksit Bharat

The launch of the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a national awakening. A developed India cannot be built on the foundation of a broken, addicted youth. Substance abuse among the young is not merely a personal tragedy. It is a threat to the nation’s future. When a young person falls into the trap of drugs, a family suffers, a community loses a potential leader, and the nation loses a contributor to its progress. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on mental and physical fitness as prerequisites for Viksit Bharat is a timely reminder that health and ambition must go hand in hand. The campaign’s 100-week Jan Bhagidari approach is particularly significant. It recognises that the fight against drugs cannot be won by government action alone. It requires the participation of every citizen—parents, teachers, neighbours, and youth themselves. Activities like sports events, walkathons, cultural programmes, and nukkad nataks are not mere publicity stunts. They are tools to channel youthful energy into constructive avenues and to build awareness from the ground up. The results from Jammu and Kashmir are encouraging. Over 2,600 arrests, 1,500 kilograms of narcotics seized, and properties worth nearly Rs 200 crore attached demonstrate the government’s resolve. But enforcement is only half the battle. The true measure of success will be in rehabilitation—helping victims of addiction reclaim their lives and dignity. The proposed three-year rehabilitation scheme, with its focus on medical treatment, counselling, education, and employment, is a step in the right direction. It acknowledges that addicts are victims, not criminals, and that society has a responsibility to bring them back into the mainstream. The youth are India’s greatest strength, and their protection is the nation’s highest priority. A drug-free India is an achievable goal if every citizen takes ownership of this campaign.