(Photo: Lok Bhavan)
Itanagar, August 2 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Sunday proposed organising ‘Nasha Mukt Street Shows’ across the state every Sunday for the next 100 days to generate widespread public awareness and mobilise communities, especially the youth, in the fight against the growing menace of drug abuse.
The Governor on Sunday participated in the virtual interaction with the youth of the nation and the launch of ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from Lok Bhavan, Itanagar.
The Prime Minister launched the 100-week nationwide Jan Bhagidari campaign and addressed more than 1 crore young people from over 10,000 locations across the country, including educational institutions and youth centres in Arunachal Pradesh. The nationwide programme highlighted the critical role of youth in building a drug-free, healthy and developed India and reinforced the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Following the virtual interaction, the Governor held discussions with officials and called for a sustained people-centric campaign against substance abuse. Emphasising the importance of community participation, the Governor advocated a ‘Detect-Counsel-Prevent-Skill’ approach at the grassroots level. He urged Gaon Burahs (village heads), community elders and Panchayat leaders to identify vulnerable youth, counsel affected families and help prevent drug abuse in villages.
At the Circle level, he suggested involving Self Help Groups (SHGs) in rehabilitation and recovery initiatives.
Lt Gen Parnaik (Retd) further recommended that recovered youth be designated as ‘ADA – Anti-Drugs Ambassadors’ to inspire and guide others towards recovery. Highlighting the need for a multi-pronged strategy, the Governor, who kicked off the Rupa Football League - Independence Cup Football Tournament with the theme ‘Say No to Drugs, Yes to Football’ recently at Rupa West Kameng district, stressed skill development, productive youth engagement, and greater participation in games and sports as effective tools for prevention.
He also emphasised the use of technology and intelligence-based surveillance to identify drug trafficking routes, networks and distributors.
Calling for strict enforcement of the law, the Governor stated that those involved in drug-related offences must be dealt with firmly under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and other relevant laws to safeguard the future of the nation’s youth.
