Odisha has embarked on a historic mission to build a drug‑free state with the launch of the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva – Vikashit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ at Kalinga Stadium.
The campaign, led by the State Government under the MY Bharat initiative of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, saw the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Dr Haribabu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Minister Surjyabanshi Suraj, along with thousands of students joining virtually.
Over one crore youth across 10,000 locations nationwide took the pledge for a drug‑free India. Governor Kambhampati administered the oath, urging the youth to replace addiction with sports, fitness, yoga, and social service. He emphasised that true change requires collective participation from parents, teachers, institutions, and youth themselves to transform the campaign into a mass movement.
Chief Minister Majhi announced that the initiative will continue for 100 weeks, evolving into a sustained people’s movement. He praised the Prime Minister’s vision for a Developed India by 2047, calling the youth the “architects of a new India.”
Reaffirming the government’s Zero Tolerance policy against narcotics, Majhi revealed that between July 2024 and June 2026, Odisha Police destroyed 63,720 acres of illegal cannabis cultivation worth Rs 1,911 crore, registered 2,576 cases, arrested 3,699 accused, and seized 432 tons of ganja valued at Rs 2,106 crore. He warned drug mafias to reform or face bulldozer‑style action, urging citizens to report suspicious activities immediately.
The CM also highlighted the strengthening of rehabilitation and treatment centres for addicts and appealed to all youth to take the “Say No to Drugs” pledge.
Minister Surjyabanshi Suraj underscored the role of schools, colleges, MY Bharat clubs, NSS units, and sports hostels in driving the campaign. The event received an overwhelming response across 453 centres in Odisha, with over 1.6 lakh participants joining the live broadcast.
