THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 2, 2026
Declaring that the Odisha government has taken a firm resolve
to make the state completely drug-free, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday
said the newly launched 'Nasha Mukt Yuva – Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' would
be carried forward as a mass social movement for the next 100 weeks.
"This campaign is not a one-day event, but a continuous
people's movement that will continue for two years," Majhi said while
addressing students and youth at Kalinga Stadium after participating in the
virtual launch of the nationwide campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The national programme, organised by MY Bharat under the
Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, was attended at Kalinga Stadium by
Governor Dr Haribabu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Majhi, Sports and Youth
Affairs Minister Suryavansi Suraj and hundreds of students.
Governor Kambhampati administered the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva –
Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' pledge to the gathering and urged young people
to become ambassadors of a drug-free society.
Describing youth as the foundation of nation-building, the
Governor called upon them to embrace sports, fitness, yoga, education and
social service instead of addiction. He said Odisha's emergence as a major
sports hub offered immense opportunities for youngsters to channelise their
energy positively and stressed that a drug-free society could only be achieved
through a people's movement involving parents, teachers, social organisations
and youth.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi said drug addiction was not
merely a health issue but a social and economic challenge that weakens mental
and physical capabilities, devastates families financially and hampers the
state's development.
Lauding Prime Minister Modi's vision of a developed India by
2047, he said the country's Gen Z population and youth would play a decisive
role in realising that goal.
Highlighting the state's "Zero Tolerance" policy
against narcotics, the Chief Minister said Odisha Police destroyed illegal
ganja cultivation over 63,720 acres between July 2024 and June 2026, involving
crops worth around Rs 1,911 crore.
During the period, police registered 2,576 cases, arrested
3,699 accused and seized 432 tonnes of ganja valued at approximately Rs 2,106
crore, he said.
Majhi said the government was also strengthening treatment
and rehabilitation facilities for drug addicts and appealed to people to inform
the police about any suspicious drug-related activities.
Expressing concern over the growing use of brown sugar,
cocaine, synthetic and injectable drugs among youth, he said the government was
acting on a war footing to curb the menace. Referring to recent seizures of
synthetic drugs in Bhubaneswar and action against drug syndicates in Balasore,
he warned traffickers of stringent action.
"Those who continue to poison our youth should be ready
for strict legal action, including bulldozer action," the Chief Minister
said, urging youngsters to take the pledge of "Say No to Drugs" and
lead a healthy life.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Suryavansi Suraj said
students from schools and colleges, MY Bharat Youth Clubs, National Service
Scheme (NSS) volunteers and sports hostels would spearhead the campaign across
the state.
The Chief Minister called upon educational institutions,
youth organisations, NSS volunteers, MY Bharat volunteers, industries and the
media to join hands under the slogan "No to drugs, yes to life and
progress" to make the campaign a people's movement.
According to officials, more than one crore youth at over 10,000 locations across the country took the anti-drug pledge in the virtual presence of the Prime Minister.
In Odisha, the campaign witnessed live streaming at 453 designated centres and drew participation from more than 1.6 lakh youth and viewers across the state, they added.
