Itanagar, July 31 — Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Thursday called for a “Whole-of-Society” approach to build a Nasha Mukt Yuva (drug-free youth) as a key pillar of Viksit Bharat @2047, stressing that eliminating substance abuse requires collective efforts by governments, educational institutions, families, communities and civil society.
Addressing a virtual conference on Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat, he said substance abuse threatens not only individual health but also educational attainment, productivity, social harmony and national development.
Vice Chancellors of government and private universities, senior officers of Health, Education, Sports and Youth Affairs, Social Justice & Empowerment and Tribal Affairs Departments, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Red Cross volunteers attended the conference, organised by Lok Bhavan, Itanagar in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The Governor said a Nasha Mukt Bharat is not merely about the absence of drugs, but about promoting healthy choices, supportive families and resilient communities. “When drugs take control of the mind, one loses control over life itself, which destroys not only the person but also his family,” he remarked.
Advocating a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, Parnaik said youth are the nation’s greatest strength and most valuable asset. He emphasised prevention, awareness, technology-driven monitoring, outreach, and skill development opportunities for recovered individuals to reintegrate into society.
He proposed five key interventions: establishing Anti-Drug Cells and counselling mechanisms in every university; setting up district-level Anti-Drug Task Forces and early warning systems; promoting sports and youth engagement; strengthening community-based counselling, rehabilitation, and de-addiction networks; and launching a Nasha Mukt Tribal Youth Movement through local languages and village-level volunteers.
“Every young life lost to addiction represents a loss of national potential,” he said, urging students, particularly future doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists and public health professionals, to become ambassadors of awareness and prevention.
Calling for greater research in addiction medicine, mental health and behavioural sciences, the Governor stressed that evidence must guide action and inform policy. Reiterating his commitment as Chief Rector of Rajiv Gandhi University and Chancellor of Arunachal Pradesh University, he said every campus must become a centre of awareness, every district a hub of prevention, every sports field a platform of hope, and every village a fortress against substance abuse.
He urged all stakeholders to transform Nasha Mukt Bharat into a true Jan Andolan and contribute towards a healthier, stronger and Viksit Bharat by 2047.