Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General K.T. Parnaik (Retired) on Tuesday, 16 September launched declamation and painting competitions at Lok Bhavan, Itanagar, as part of his sustained campaign against substance abuse in the state under the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan'. The initiative drew 31 college participants and 35 school students from across the state, aiming to channel youth energy into frontline drug-awareness action.

What the Programme Involved

The competitions were designed to engage young minds through creative expression and informed dialogue on the dangers of drug abuse. According to a Lok Bhavan official, the programme reinforced the message that combating the drug crisis demands collective commitment and youth-led action — not merely administrative enforcement.

Participants in the declamation competition came from 11 higher educational institutions across the state, including Arunachal Pradesh University, Pasighat; Dera Natung College, Itanagar; Binni Yanga Government Women's College, Jote; Jarbom Gamlin Law College, Jote; Dorjee Khandu Government College, Tawang; NERIST, Nirjuli; Arunadaya University, Itanagar; Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai; Apex Professional University, Pasighat; IGTAMSU, Ziro; and Don Bosco College, Itanagar. A separate painting competition saw 35 students from schools in the state capital participate.

Governor's Remarks

Governor Parnaik interacted with participants after the events, commending them for their 'confidence, clarity of thought and commitment to a cause that is of critical importance to society.' He expressed particular appreciation for the high standard of the declamation contest, noting that participants had articulated their views with 'conviction, maturity and a deep sense of social responsibility.'

He also observed that such platforms do more than build public-speaking ability — they encourage young people to think critically about issues directly affecting their communities.

The Northeast's Drug Menace: Context

The programme comes amid a well-documented narcotics challenge across India's Northeast. Arunachal Pradesh shares a 520-km-long unfenced border with Myanmar, creating persistent vulnerabilities for drug trafficking. Neighbouring states Mizoram and Manipur have similarly emerged as major trafficking corridors, owing to their long and porous international borders with Myanmar and their geographic proximity to the Golden Triangle — one of the world's principal illicit narcotics-producing regions.

This is the latest in a series of awareness programmes the Governor has spearheaded across the state as part of his broader mandate to address substance abuse through community engagement rather than punitive action alone.

What Comes Next

Officials indicate that such campaigns are expected to continue with greater frequency across districts, including in border areas most exposed to trafficking routes. The focus remains on building a generation of informed, vocal young advocates who can carry the anti-drug message into their own communities.