Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the growing participation of young people in the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign against drug and substance abuse. Speaking during the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi noted that millions of young people have pledged to stay away from drugs and are actively spreading awareness in their communities.
Key facts
- The campaign is called Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan
- It is a 100-week campaign
- It involves volunteers from Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), National Service Scheme (NSS), schools, colleges, universities and social and spiritual organisations
- Thousands of pledge ceremonies and awareness programmes have been organised recently
- Competitions include anthem, slogan-writing and street-play contests
- The campaign uses the social media hashtag #NashaMuktYuva
- Planned activities include health check-ups and meditation camps
What is the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan
The Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Abhiyan is a sustained 100-week effort coordinated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to combat substance abuse among young people. Rather than relying on top-down messaging, the campaign empowers youth to take the lead in shaping and spreading its message. The initiative brings together multiple platforms and organisations, including MY Bharat, which is a national youth volunteer programme, and the National Service Scheme, which is a government-backed community service programme run through schools and colleges.
Youth-led creative communication
A distinctive feature of this campaign is that young people are themselves driving the awareness effort. The Prime Minister particularly highlighted the ‘Nasha-Mukti Ka Sandesh’ (Anti-Drug Message) initiative, which encourages youth to communicate the anti-drug message in their own languages and through creative forms of expression suited to their communities. This recognises that messaging is more effective when it comes from peers and uses culturally relevant methods.
To stimulate youth participation, the campaign has organised competitions across multiple formats. These include anthem-writing contests, slogan-writing competitions and street-play contests, all hosted through the MY Bharat platform. Young people have also taken to social media to amplify the campaign, creating and sharing creative content using the hashtag #NashaMuktYuva. This blend of offline activities, competitive engagement and digital outreach is designed to make the anti-drug message reach wider audiences.
Scale and implementation
The scale of the campaign is significant. Thousands of pledge ceremonies have been held across India as part of the campaign, where young people publicly commit to staying away from substance abuse and to promoting awareness among others. These ceremonies and related awareness programmes serve multiple purposes: they create a sense of collective resolve, build community engagement and establish visible momentum around the cause.
Implementation happens through a decentralised network of partners. Schools, colleges and universities are key delivery points, as are various social and spiritual organisations that already have trust and presence in communities. This multi-institutional approach allows the campaign to reach young people through channels they already frequent and trust.
Beyond awareness
The campaign is not limited to messaging and pledge-taking. The Prime Minister also announced that health check-ups and meditation camps will be organised in the coming weeks as part of the sustained outreach. These activities aim to promote healthy lifestyles and holistic well-being among young people, recognising that substance abuse prevention is linked to broader health and wellness.
What this means for you
If you are a student, young professional or young person generally, this campaign offers opportunities to participate and use your creativity. You can contribute through competitions, social media activism or volunteer work with MY Bharat and NSS. Schools and colleges can expect to see more anti-drug pledge ceremonies and awareness programmes in the coming months.
If you are involved in community work, social organisations or educational institutions, you may be approached to partner with or host campaign activities. The 100-week duration suggests the campaign will run throughout the academic year and beyond, providing sustained opportunities for engagement.