CM Majhi calls for drug-free Odisha on UN Anti-Drug Day
Synopsis
On the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged citizens to say no to drugs and pledge to build a healthy, drug-free society, reinforcing the state's alignment with India's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June 2026 with a public pledge on X.
He called a drug-free environment 'indispensable' for building a healthy, secure, and empowered society.
The UN General Assembly established 26 June as the global anti-drug observance day through a 1987 resolution.
India's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan , launched in 2020 , is the central government's flagship anti-drug awareness programme that states including Odisha are expected to support.
The NDPS Act, 1985 remains India's primary legal instrument against narcotics production, trafficking, and consumption.
The message targets Odisha's youth and families, urging community-level awareness to reduce demand for illicit substances.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 26 June 2026, marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by calling on citizens to pledge against narcotics and build a healthy, aware, and drug-free society. Posting in Odia on X, the Chief Minister underscored that a drug-free environment is indispensable to building a healthy, secure, and empowered community.
Context
In his post, CM Majhi wrote: 'ଏକ ସୁସ୍ଥ, ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ଓ ସଶକ୍ତ ସମାଜ ଗଠନ ପାଇଁ ନିଶାମୁକ୍ତ ପରିବେଶ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଅପରିହାର୍ଯ୍ୟ' ('Creating a drug-free environment is essential for building a healthy, safe and empowered society'). He urged people to say 'no' to drugs and to spread awareness about their ill-effects, calling on every citizen to reject the trafficking and consumption of illicit substances and to participate collectively in building a conscious, drug-free society.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed annually on 26 June, a date established by the United Nations General Assembly through a resolution in 1987. It serves as a global platform for governments, civil society, and individuals to reaffirm commitment to tackling the drug menace.
Policy Backdrop
India's legislative framework against narcotics rests primarily on the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which governs the control of production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit drugs. At the national level, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in 2020, has been the flagship awareness and de-addiction programme, engaging states as key implementation partners.
Odisha, governed by the BJP since the 2024 state assembly elections, has aligned its social welfare messaging with central government priorities including substance abuse prevention. India is also a signatory to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and its subsequent protocols, giving the 26 June observance added diplomatic weight.
Stakeholders and Impact
The call to action is aimed primarily at Odisha's youth and families, who bear the heaviest social and economic burden of drug abuse. Community-level awareness, a central ask in CM Majhi's message, is widely regarded as a frontline tool in reducing demand for illicit substances, especially in districts vulnerable to trafficking routes.
State governments across India regularly mark the 26 June observance with local campaigns that complement central narcotics control efforts. CM Majhi's public pledge reinforces the administration's positioning on social welfare, signalling that anti-drug messaging will remain part of the state's governance communication.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to whether Odisha announces concrete state-level components under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan or launches dedicated awareness drives in the coming months. The Chief Minister's message on a high-visibility UN observance day sets a public benchmark that civil society groups and opposition legislators are likely to cite when tracking follow-through on anti-narcotics commitments.
Point of View
High-visibility signal that Odisha's BJP government intends to keep social welfare — including substance abuse — at the centre of its public messaging. Framing the appeal in Odia rather than English suggests the communication is directed at a broad grassroots audience rather than a policy elite. The message dovetails with the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, allowing the state administration to claim alignment with a central government flagship without committing to specific budgetary or programmatic announcements. Whether this translates into measurable state-level action will be the real test of the administration's anti-narcotics resolve.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 26 June observed as Anti-Drug Day?
26 June is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking , established by the United Nations General Assembly through a resolution in 1987 to strengthen global action and cooperation against the drug menace.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi say on Anti-Drug Day 2026?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi called on citizens to say no to drugs, spread awareness about their ill-effects, and collectively build a healthy, drug-free society, describing a drug-free environment as essential for a secure and empowered community.
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan?
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is India's national anti-drug awareness and de-addiction programme launched in 2020 by the central government, with states serving as key implementation partners.
Which law governs drug control in India?
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 is India's primary legislation controlling the production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit drugs.
When did BJP come to power in Odisha?
The BJP came to power in Odisha after the 2024 state assembly elections, with Mohan Charan Majhi taking office as Chief Minister.
