Text of PM’s speech at the launch of ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ via VC

The launch of the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25, 2025, marks a watershed moment in India's comprehensive strategy to combat drug abuse among its youth population. This initiative represents a paradigm shift from purely law-enforcement approaches to a holistic, community-driven movement that integrates spiritual, cultural, and scientific dimensions. The campaign's genesis as a pilot project in Varanasi (Kashi) in 2024, culminating in the 'Kashi Declaration' roadmap developed with 125+ spiritual organizations, demonstrates an innovative governance model that leverages India's civilizational heritage alongside modern institutional frameworks. The constitutional foundation for this initiative draws from multiple provisions. Article 47 of the Directive Principles of State Policy explicitly mandates that "the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health." This constitutional directive is operationalized through the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which provides the legal framework for drug control, and the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. The campaign also aligns with Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) as interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the right to health, and Article 51A(h) which imposes a fundamental duty on citizens to develop scientific temper and humanism. The strategic significance of this campaign extends across multiple dimensions. Demographically, India's youth bulge — with over 65% of the population under 35 years — represents both an unprecedented opportunity and a critical vulnerability. The PM's characterization of drug abuse as a national security threat linked to cross-border terrorism reflects intelligence assessments that narcotics trafficking finances terrorist networks operating from neighboring countries, particularly through the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan-Pakistan-Iran) and Golden Triangle (Myanmar-Laos-Thailand) routes. The government's claim of record drug seizures worth thousands of crores and multi-fold increases in arrests under the NDPS Act indicates a hardened enforcement posture. Economically, substance abuse imposes massive costs through lost productivity, healthcare expenditure, and law enforcement expenses. The World Drug Report 2023 by UNODC estimates that drug use disorders cost countries 1-2% of GDP annually. For India targeting a $5 trillion economy and Viksit Bharat by 2047, protecting human capital from addiction is an economic imperative. The 100-week Sunday program structure — incorporating art, culture, sports, meditation, and community service — reflects a preventive public health approach aligned with the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) 2018-2025. The involvement of MY Bharat volunteers, NSS cadets, and educational institutions creates a decentralized implementation architecture that can penetrate grassroots levels more effectively than top-down government programs. The PM's call for spiritual organizations to adopt one-week leadership rotations over 100 weeks demonstrates innovative collaborative governance. However, challenges remain: ensuring sustained funding beyond the campaign period, addressing regional disparities in rehabilitation infrastructure (only 400+ Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts nationwide), combating stigma that prevents families from seeking help, and countering evolving synthetic drug threats like methamphetamine and fentanyl analogues. Future implications include potential integration with the National Health Mission's mental health component, expansion of opioid substitution therapy (OST) centres, and possible legislative amendments to the NDPS Act to balance enforcement with harm reduction. The campaign's success will ultimately be measured not by pledge-taking ceremonies but by sustained reductions in first-time drug use prevalence rates among 15-24 year olds, as tracked by the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India.