Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 August launched the nationwide 'Drug-Free Youth for Viksit Bharat Pledge Campaign', with Gujarat hosting its state-level edition at the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar. Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel led the event, urging young people to spearhead the fight against substance abuse as a cornerstone of the Viksit Bharat vision.

The Campaign and Its Reach

Formally titled 'Gen-Z Against Addiction – Drug-Free Youth for Viksit Bharat Pledge Campaign', the initiative saw Modi address youth virtually, calling on them to actively contribute to building a drug-free India. Governors from 26 states and Chief Ministers from 11 states participated in the nationwide rollout, with young participants across the country taking the anti-drug pledge. An awareness film on substance abuse was screened at the Gandhinagar venue, followed by a street play reinforcing the message of responsible citizenship.

What the Governor Said

Responding to questions from participants, Governor Acharya Devvrat said Modi had envisioned a 'Drug-Free Developed India' and was working continuously toward that goal. 'India must become not only a developed nation but also a drug-free nation. The country's greatest asset is its youth,' he said. He urged young people to channel their energy into constructive pursuits — water conservation, environmental protection, and respect for elders — and invoked the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Bhagat Singh as enduring models of national dedication.

On his natural farming campaign, the Governor noted that he regularly visited remote villages across Gujarat, stayed overnight with farmers, and encouraged tree plantation on one acre of Panchayat wasteland under the Prime Minister's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative. He added that nearly 8.5 lakh farmers in Gujarat had adopted natural farming, driven by growing awareness of the harmful effects of chemical fertilisers on soil, the environment, and human health.

Chief Minister Patel on Making It a People's Movement

Responding to a suggestion from a My Bharat volunteer on expanding youth participation, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the government was committed to transforming the campaign into a broad-based people's movement. 'The Drug-Free Youth for Viksit Bharat Pledge Campaign should become a people's movement in Gujarat. The spirit of My Bharat should not be centred on self but on the nation,' he said, calling on all stakeholders to work collectively toward the programme's vision.

My Bharat's Role and Youth Connect

My Bharat State Director Sachin Sharma told the gathering that under Modi's 'Viksit Yuva, Viksit Bharat' framework, the organisation had connected with more than 2.5 crore young people across the country, including over 9 lakh in Gujarat. He said thousands of programmes were being organised nationwide with participation from lakhs of youth, aimed at strengthening positive thinking, a sense of responsibility, and the spirit of national service — all in pursuit of the Viksit Bharat 2047 target.

This campaign marks one of the most coordinated Centre-state anti-drug mobilisations in recent years, with the scale of simultaneous state-level events signalling a deliberate push to embed the issue in mainstream youth discourse ahead of 2047 milestones.