Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, has called for a 'collective, mission-mode approach' to tackle the growing challenge of substance abuse among youth in the northeastern region. She made the remarks on Thursday while addressing a 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat – Purvottar' event organized by MY Bharat under the Department of Youth Affairs at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong.
Event Highlights and Participants
The gathering brought together representatives from 24 spiritual and social organizations, youth officers, civil society stakeholders, and institutional leaders. The primary objective was to deliberate on strategies for strengthening anti-drug awareness and youth engagement initiatives across the Northeast.
Minister's Call for Collective Action
Speaking at the event, Khadse stated, 'We must collectively take forward the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan in mission mode. Our youth are the greatest strength of the nation, and it is our shared responsibility to guide them towards the right direction. If we provide them with positive guidance and opportunities, we will certainly achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.' She underscored that substance abuse should not be viewed merely as an individual challenge but as a larger social concern requiring coordinated community action and sustained institutional intervention.
Role of MY Bharat and Sports
Referring to the MY Bharat platform, the minister noted that it was envisioned to connect youth with nation-building initiatives and encourage their active participation in addressing social challenges at the grassroots level. 'Sports can become one of the most effective instruments for channelizing youth energy in a constructive direction. States across the Northeast, along with Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa, already possess a strong sports culture. We must connect more youth with sports, local cultural activities, and positive community engagement,' she stressed.
IIM Shillong Director's Perspective
Nalini Prava Tripathy, Director of IIM Shillong, highlighted the importance of sports and management education in shaping responsible citizens and future leaders. She said that IIM Shillong continuously encourages student participation in sports, yoga, meditation, cultural activities, and co-curricular engagements to ensure positive social and emotional development among young people.
