PM Modi Unveils 100‑Week ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva’ Drive to Push for a Drug‑Free India

On a breezy Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went live – well, virtually – to kick off what he called the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’. In plain words, it’s a 100‑week, every‑Sunday crusade that hopes to make the idea of a drug‑free India stick in the minds of youngsters.

Modi, flanked by a lively crowd of teenagers and a few senior officials, explained that each Sunday for the next hundred weeks will be filled with sports tournaments, cultural shows, meditation circles, street‑theatre skits and even community‑service drives. The thought is simple: keep the youth busy, engaged and, most importantly, thinking about healthy choices.

“From today, the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan is being launched across the country,” he said, his voice echoing the usual blend of optimism and resolve. “When this becomes a collective campaign, even those who are unable to do something on their own will receive new energy.” He added that the momentum built in the first few weeks should keep rolling for the entire 100‑Sunday stretch, turning each event into a small but firm step toward a drug‑free nation.

The programme is being billed as a kind of ‘Jan Bhagidari’ – a people’s participation drive – meaning anyone, from a school kid in a remote village to a corporate employee in a metro, can join the effort. Planned activities range from walk‑athons and art competitions to nukkad‑natak (street plays) that dramatise the dangers of substance abuse.

When pressed about why such a massive campaign is needed, Modi didn’t mince words: “Drugs can give you a high for a short time, but they drag down your career and your personal life.” He warned that a truly developed India depends on a generation that is physically fit, mentally sound and brimming with self‑confidence.

Modi also urged families to stop shying away from the issue. Instead of hiding a child’s addiction out of fear of social stigma, he encouraged parents to seek professional help and keep the lines of communication open. “Recovering addicts deserve respect, not prejudice,” he said, insisting that society should give them a second chance.

On the enforcement front, the prime minister highlighted that recent months have seen a sharp rise in drug‑related arrests and seizures worth thousands of crores of rupees, signalling a tougher stance by the government.

Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukh Mandaviya, who was also present, reminded everyone that the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ was first launched back in 2020, echoing Modi’s vision of a drug‑free country. Today’s announcement, he said, merely expands that vision into a more structured, community‑driven effort.

Whether the 100‑week marathon will succeed remains to be seen, but the message is clear: the government wants to make sure that the next generation grows up without the shadows of drug abuse looming over their futures.