Ministry of Social Justice's Anti-Drug Awareness Programme
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah was observed from June 17 to June 26, 2026, to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, involving over 1.31 crore citizens in awareness generation and community mobilisation activities. These activities included Nasha Mukti Mitra registration drives, seminars, webinars, training programmes for children and youth, street plays (Nukkad Nataks), skits, slogan-writing competitions, e-pledges, rallies, yoga sessions, signature campaigns, essay-writing competitions, painting competitions, and other community engagement initiatives.
The programme culminated in a National Awareness Programme held at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on June 26, 2026, attended by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, and Dr. Chinmay Pandya, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the university. A Nasha Mukt Rally was organized with approximately 4,000 participants, and the Minister administered the Pledge Against Drug Abuse and the Ageing with Dignity Pledge. The event saw participation from students, youth, volunteers from spiritual organisations, government representatives, and stakeholders from across India, including States, Union Territories, line Ministries, Departments, Grant-in-Aid institutions, and Addiction Treatment Facilities.
Memorandums of Understanding were signed between the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the All World Gayatri Pariwar under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana to strengthen collaboration in awareness generation, community mobilisation, drug demand reduction, and promotion of senior citizen welfare. The programme acknowledged the efforts of States, Union Territories, Districts, Line Ministries, Departments, and Grant-in-Aid Institutions, and felicitated Nasha Mukti Mitras and winners of various competitions for their contributions to a drug-free society. This initiative reaffirms the Government of India's commitment to building a Nasha Mukt Bharat through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.