Shillong: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Raksha Khadse, today called for a collective, mission-mode approach to combat the growing challenge of substance abuse among youth while addressing the “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat – Purvottar” programme organised by MY Bharat under the Department of Youth Affairs at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong.
The programme brought together representatives from 24 spiritual and social organisations, youth officers, civil society stakeholders and institutional leaders to deliberate on strategies for strengthening anti-drug awareness and youth engagement initiatives across the North East region.
The event was attended by Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs; Dr. Priyanka Shukla, CEO, MY Bharat; and Prof. Nalini Prava Tripathy, Director, IIM Shillong, among other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Raksha Khadse said that India’s youth population is the country’s greatest strength and emphasised that guiding young people in the right direction would be critical to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“We must collectively take forward the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan in mission mode. Our youth are the greatest strength of the nation, and it is our shared responsibility to guide them towards the right direction. If we provide them with positive guidance and opportunities, we will certainly achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047,” she said.
Highlighting the seriousness of substance abuse and addiction, the Minister noted that the issue must be viewed not merely as an individual challenge but as a larger social concern requiring coordinated community action and sustained institutional intervention.
Referring to the role of MY Bharat, she said the platform was envisioned to connect youth with nation-building initiatives and encourage their active participation in addressing social challenges at the grassroots level. She urged Youth Officers and partner organisations to ensure that MY Bharat initiatives reach every district and every section of society.
Raksha Khadse also underlined the importance of sports as a transformative social force capable of positively engaging young people and reducing vulnerability to addiction, stress and social isolation.
“Sports can become one of the most effective instruments for channelising youth energy in a constructive direction. States across the North East, along with Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Goa, already possess a strong sports culture. We must connect more youth with sports, local cultural activities and positive community engagement,” she said.
She further stated that increasing participation of youth in cultural and spiritual programmes presents an opportunity to guide them towards constructive social engagement and collective responsibility.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Nalini Prava Tripathy, Director, IIM Shillong, said sports and management education together play an important role in shaping responsible citizens and future leaders. She observed that sports help reduce stress and anxiety while promoting discipline, teamwork and collaboration among youth.
She added that IIM Shillong continuously encourages student participation in sports, yoga, meditation, cultural activities and co-curricular engagements to ensure positive social and emotional development among young people.
Calling upon participants to emerge as ambassadors against substance abuse, Prof. Tripathy expressed confidence that the deliberations and interactions during the programme would contribute meaningfully towards strengthening the national anti-drug movement.
During the programme, presentations were also made on the MY Bharat Portal, MY Bharat institutional initiatives and best practices being undertaken by organisations working in the field of drug de-addiction and youth outreach.
Raksha Khadse noted that similar consultations held earlier in Varanasi had led to important recommendations under the “Kashi Declaration”, several aspects of which are being actively taken forward by the Ministry.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment to supporting collaborative anti-drug initiatives, she assured participating organisations that the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports would continue to work closely with institutions, NGOs and community stakeholders to strengthen awareness, outreach and grassroots implementation efforts across the country.
