The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is deepening its work under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a national campaign to reduce drug abuse, by signing agreements with four new spiritual organisations. The move reflects a strategy to use religious and faith-based institutions as partners in spreading awareness about substance abuse at the community level.
Four spiritual groups will enter into formal partnerships with the government: Adhyatm Vigyan Satsang Kendra, Chinmaya Mission, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan and Hare Krishna Movement. The signing ceremony was scheduled to take place at the Ministry’s office in New Delhi, with the Secretary of the Ministry and senior officials present.
What the partnerships involve
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment had already signed similar agreements with eight other spiritual organisations: The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, ISKCON, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, All World Gayatri Pariwar, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram and the University of Patanjali. These existing partnerships have so far supported large awareness programmes in communities, recruited volunteers and incorporated yoga, meditation and spiritual counselling into treatment and recovery efforts for substance abuse.
The government sees spiritual organisations as valuable because they can offer moral guidance, build emotional strength in people and mobilise communities at the local level. The strategy combines spiritual and social methods to create a comprehensive response to drug abuse prevention and recovery.
What this means for you
If you live in an area served by any of these spiritual organisations, you may encounter anti-drug awareness campaigns and recovery support programmes in your community. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan also provides a platform for citizens to pledge their commitment to a drug-free society and access an official mobile application for information and resources related to the campaign.