Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, spearheaded a nationwide ‘Mass Pledge’ against drug abuse under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) at Modern School Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. The event, held on August 12, 2024, saw participation from over 1 crore people across more than 10,000 locations in India, marking a significant step in the country’s fight against substance abuse.
The event, which included 2,700 students and teachers from Modern School as well as senior ministry officials, was also attended virtually by numerous stakeholders including schools, colleges, universities, and district administrations. Ministers of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale and Shri B.L. Verma, participated via video conference.
Launched in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a drug-free India on August 15, 2020, NMBA aims to reach out to the masses, particularly targeting educational institutions, to spread awareness about substance use. Dr. Virendra Kumar highlighted that since its inception, the campaign has sensitized over 11.26 crore people, including more than 3.55 crore youth and 2.35 crore women, through various activities. Additionally, over 3.40 lakh educational institutions have played a pivotal role in ensuring that the campaign’s message reaches children and youth across the country.
In his address, Dr. Kumar emphasized the societal role in combating drug abuse, stressing the need for early identification, prevention, and collective efforts to address the challenge. He urged students, as the future of the country, to lead the campaign against drugs and to spread awareness within their communities.
MoS Shri Ramdas Athawale praised the government’s mission-mode approach to tackling the drug menace, highlighting the achievements of NMBA in reducing drug demand. He lauded the students for their active participation in the initiative.
Secretary (DoSJE) Shri Amit Yadav, in his keynote address, underscored the economic and social impact of substance abuse on the nation, emphasizing that collective efforts are essential to eradicating the drug menace.
As part of the event, saplings were planted at the school campus by the Union Minister and MoS under the ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ campaign. Students were also given saplings to plant at their homes, symbolizing the growth of a drug-free future.
