The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will hold an ‘Ashirvad Ka Diya’ ceremony as part of the Seva Diwas celebrations organised by the Government of India. Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar will light a ceremonial lamp alongside 200 to 250 individuals who have completed drug treatment and rehabilitation programmes. The event aims to showcase how institutional support helps people recover from substance use and rejoin mainstream society.
The Event and Its Scale
The ceremony will take place at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi. The participants are beneficiaries of de-addiction facilities run by the Ministry’s Grant-in-Aid institutions and treatment centres across Delhi-NCR and nearby regions. According to the Ministry, the lighting of the lamp symbolises empowerment, resilience and dignity for those who have overcome addiction.
The Ministry also highlighted progress under its flagship Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (National Drug-Free India Campaign). The campaign has reached over 34.55 crore citizens, including more than 13.71 crore youth and 10.65 crore women, through awareness activities across the country. More than 1.68 lakh Nasha Mukti Mitras, or community volunteers, have joined the campaign to strengthen grassroots participation.
The Ministry has established over 755 new de-addiction facilities in the last two years, including District De-addiction Centres and Addiction Treatment Facilities. Additionally, more than 1.67 lakh trained volunteers, community leaders and workers have been equipped to identify substance dependency and provide support.
Under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), the Ministry provides funding to State Governments, Union Territories, NGOs and Government hospitals for awareness, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation services.
What this means for you
If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, the Ministry’s de-addiction network across the country offers treatment and rehabilitation support. You can also join the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan by taking the pledge to promote awareness about substance abuse in your community. Information about these initiatives and volunteer registration is available on the Ministry’s portal at dosje.gov.in.