Dream of drug-free India can be realised only through active public participation: Union Minister Mandaviya

The launch of 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp' by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad marks a significant milestone in India's ongoing battle against substance abuse. This initiative is not merely another anti-drug campaign; it represents a strategic shift towards youth-led, community-driven prevention aligned with the larger vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. To understand its depth, we must trace the historical context. India's drug problem has deep roots — from the opium trade during British colonial rule to the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle trafficking routes that funnel heroin and synthetic drugs into Punjab, Northeast, and metropolitan cities today. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, amended in 1989, 2001, and 2014, provides the legal backbone, but enforcement alone has proven insufficient. The 2019 National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed alarming data: over 6 crore Indians use opioids, 3.1 crore use cannabis, and 1.18 crore use sedatives — with a significant proportion being youth aged 10-17. This demographic reality makes the focus on 'Yuva' (youth) both logical and urgent. Key stakeholders form a multi-layered ecosystem. At the apex, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, led by Dr. Mandaviya, drives policy convergence with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (nodal for drug demand reduction), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (treatment infrastructure), Ministry of Home Affairs (enforcement via NCB), and state governments. The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and regional resource centres provide technical support. Civil society — NGOs like SPYM, TTK Hospital, and Amrita Hospital itself — deliver grassroots rehabilitation. Most critically, the youth themselves are positioned not as beneficiaries but as leaders, echoing the Prime Minister's call for 'Jan Bhagidari' (people's participation) in governance. Constitutionally, this initiative draws strength from Article 47 (Directive Principle: State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health), Article 21 (Right to Life includes right to health), and Article 39(e) & (f) (protection of children and youth from exploitation). The NDPS Act operationalizes these, while the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) 2018-2025 provides the policy framework. The campaign also resonates with India's international commitments — UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and UN Convention against Illicit Traffic (1988), all ratified by India. The significance extends beyond health. Economically, substance abuse costs India an estimated 1.3% of GDP annually in lost productivity, healthcare, and crime. Politically, drug trafficking fuels insurgency in Northeast and terrorism in J&K, making it a national security issue. Socially, it devastates families, increases school dropouts, and perpetuates intergenerational poverty. By linking 'Nasha Mukt' to 'Viksit Bharat', the government frames drug-free youth as human capital essential for a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Future implications are profound. Success hinges on sustained funding (NAPDDR outlay: ₹2,600 crore), integration with Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres for early screening, leveraging NYKS and NSS networks for peer education, and digital tools like the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' app. The real test lies in shifting from episodic campaigns to institutionalized prevention — embedding life skills in school curricula (NEP 2020 provides space), strengthening community-based treatment, and addressing root causes: unemployment, mental health stigma, and porous borders. If youth truly lead this Sankalp, India may yet turn its demographic dividend from vulnerability into victory.