Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave in Bengaluru on June 28, 2026, during Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences' 31st Foundation Day celebrations. The event was organized by RGUHS in association with the Narcotics Control Bureau and Disha Bodh Foundation at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru.
The Vice-President called for a whole-of-society approach to build a drug-free India, emphasizing that the fight against substance abuse must begin with individuals and grow into a nationwide movement. He stated that substance abuse threatens not only individual health but also educational attainment, productivity, social cohesion, and national development. Radhakrishnan articulated that a 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' is not merely about the absence of drugs but about promoting healthy choices, informed decisions, supportive families, and resilient communities.
He urged educational institutions, families, healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to work together, noting that every young life lost to addiction represents a loss of national potential. The Vice-President specifically called upon students and future healthcare professionals to become ambassadors of awareness and play a leading role in prevention, treatment, research, and evidence-based policymaking.
Radhakrishnan emphasized the need for greater research in addiction medicine, mental health, behavioral sciences, and community-based interventions, stating that evidence must guide action and research must inform policy. He also highlighted the importance of leveraging technology, counseling services, and peer support networks in addressing substance use disorders. The Vice-President noted his advocacy for drug-free educational institutions as Chancellor of three Central Universities and referenced the Drug-Free Campus Campaign and e-pledge platform launched at the University of Delhi earlier this year.
During the event, the Vice-President administered polio vaccine drops to infants as part of the National Pulse Polio Drive in Karnataka and honored former Vice-Chancellors of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences for their contributions to the institution's growth. The event was attended by Karnataka Governor Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Karnataka Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar, Andhra Pradesh Governor Justice (Retd.) Syed Abdul Nazeer, Karnataka Minister for Medical Education Dr. Sharan Prakash R. Patil, Karnataka Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri U.T. Khader Fareed, and RGUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bhagavan.