Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Thursday, 31 July called for a 'Whole-of-Society' approach to create a Nasha Mukt Yuva (drug-free youth) as a foundational pillar of Viksit Bharat @2047, asserting that combating substance abuse demands coordinated action from governments, educational institutions, families, communities, and civil society. The Governor made these remarks while addressing a virtual conference on Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat, organised by Lok Bhavan, Itanagar in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Key Developments

The conference brought together Vice Chancellors of government and private universities, senior officers from the Health, Education, Sports and Youth Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Tribal Affairs departments, along with Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, and Red Cross volunteers. The wide representation signals an intent to move beyond departmental silos toward a unified state-level response.

What the Governor Said

Governor Parnaik warned that substance abuse threatens not only individual health but also educational attainment, productivity, social harmony, and national development. 'When drugs take control of the mind, one loses control over life itself, which destroys not only the person but also his family,' he said. He added that every young life lost to addiction represents a loss of national potential, urging students — particularly future doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and public health professionals — to become ambassadors of awareness and prevention.

He called for greater research in addiction medicine, mental health, and behavioural sciences, stressing that 'evidence must guide action and inform policy.'

Five Proposed Interventions

Parnaik outlined five key interventions for the state to adopt:

• Establishing Anti-Drug Cells and counselling mechanisms in every university.
• Setting up district-level Anti-Drug Task Forces and early warning systems.
• Promoting sports and youth engagement as preventive tools.
• Strengthening community-based counselling, rehabilitation, and de-addiction networks.
• Launching a Nasha Mukt Tribal Youth Movement through local languages and village-level volunteers.

Reiterating his commitment as Chief Rector of Rajiv Gandhi University and Chancellor of Arunachal Pradesh University, Parnaik said every campus must become a centre of awareness, every district a hub of prevention, every sports field a platform of hope, and every village a fortress against substance abuse.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The push aligns with the Centre's national Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which has identified the Northeast as a high-priority region given its proximity to the Golden Triangle — one of the world's largest illicit drug-producing zones. Arunachal Pradesh, sharing borders with Myanmar, faces acute vulnerability to drug trafficking routes. The Governor's call to transform the initiative into a true Jan Andolan (people's movement) reflects an acknowledgement that law enforcement alone cannot address the crisis. Skill development opportunities for recovered individuals to reintegrate into society were also emphasised, pointing toward a rehabilitation-first model. Stakeholders are expected to carry the conference's resolutions back to district and campus levels for implementation.