Modi to Initiate 100-Week National Anti-Drug Crusade to Shield India’s Youth
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a two-year nationwide campaign against substance abuse starting August 2. The initiative coordinates one crore volunteers to combat a rising drug crisis highlighted by recent record-breaking seizures.
The 100-Week Strategy for a Drug-Free India
In response to escalating substance abuse figures, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially kick off the ‘Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan’ on August 2, 2026. The 100-week initiative seeks to mobilize the nation’s youth through a sustained, two-year schedule of Sunday activities, including walkathons, meditation sessions, sports, and street performances. Mandaviya described the effort as a collective national mission driven by young people to secure a healthier future.
Alarming Data Drives Aggressive Intervention
The urgency of the new campaign follows troubling statistics from the Narcotics Control Bureau. The bureau’s 2025 report revealed that law enforcement seized approximately 1.34 lakh kilograms of narcotics, valued at roughly ₹1,980 crore. Furthermore, the authorities destroyed 42,282 acres of illegal opium crops in 2025—a sharp increase from the 10,000 chemistry-based acres targeted in 2020. Mandaviya categorized these figures as "nothing short of shocking," emphasizing the need for an aggressive, multi-pronged counter-strategy.
Mass Participation and Institutional Support
The scale of the August 2 launch involves simultaneous events across 10,000 distinct locations. Key operational details include:
- Total Participation: Over one crore youth are expected to take a formal anti-drug pledge during the inaugural events.
- Broad Coalition: Support comes from MY Bharat volunteers, educational institutions ranging from schools to universities, and more than 125 spiritual organizations.
- Recognition Milestones: The government intends to honor volunteers and organizations for sustained contributions at the 50th, 75th, and 100th week marks of the campaign.
Mandaviya stressed that the success of this mission depends on the active involvement of the country's youth, urging them to lead the way in dismantling the cycle of addiction that threatens national progress.
Source: The Hindu — News
