CM Saini Flags Off Anti-Drug Youth Marathon in Yamunanagar
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini flagged off the 'Yuva Marathon' in Yamunanagar on 26 July 2026, advancing the state's anti-drug campaign under the national Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. The event underscores a state-wide push for drug-free communities through youth-led mass participation.
Key Takeaways
CM Nayab Singh Saini flagged off the Yuva Marathon in Yamunanagar on 26 July 2026 under the slogan 'Nashe se jung, Yamunanagar ke sung.' The event is part of Haryana's district-level anti-drug drives aligned with the national Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan , launched in August 2020 .
Yamunanagar — bordering Punjab and Himachal Pradesh — has been a focus district due to its industrial base and reported narcotics transit routes.
The marathon format uses mass-participation sports events for social messaging, a pattern adopted by multiple Indian states since 2020 .
The campaign aims to drive positive social change across all of Haryana , with potential rollout of similar events in remaining districts.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday, 26 July 2026, flagged off a 'Yuva Marathon' in Yamunanagar under the state's ongoing anti-drug campaign, rallying youth and communities around the slogan 'Nashe se jung, Yamunanagar ke sung' — 'War against drugs, together with Yamunanagar.'
Context
Chief Minister Saini personally flagged off the marathon, describing it as a movement energised by youth enthusiasm, public participation, and the collective resolve for a drug-free society. In his post, he stated the campaign is becoming 'sakaratmak samajik parivartan ka majboot aadhar' — 'a strong foundation for positive social change' — across the whole of Haryana.
The event's tagline frames the drive as a community-wide commitment, positioning Yamunanagar as a partner in the broader fight against narcotics rather than merely a target district.
Policy Backdrop
The marathon sits within the national Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in August 2020 as a demand-reduction programme covering vulnerable districts. The scheme was expanded in 2021–22 to include several Haryana districts, and the state government has since run district-level de-addiction and awareness drives through its excise and health departments.
Yamunanagar, a northern Haryana district bordering Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, has featured in state action plans due to its industrial character, large student population, and reported transit vulnerability. Using a mass-participation marathon for social messaging follows a pattern seen across Indian states since 2020, combining physical activity with community pledge-taking.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries are Haryana's youth and families affected by addiction, particularly in border and industrial districts. By choosing the marathon format, the administration aims to normalise anti-drug messaging through peer participation rather than top-down directives.
Community-level events of this kind also engage local schools, colleges, resident welfare associations, and self-help groups, broadening the social coalition against substance abuse beyond government machinery.
What's Next
The Haryana government's stated intent is to extend positive social change across the entire state, suggesting similar youth marathons may be planned in remaining districts. Observers will watch whether the next state budget includes dedicated allocations for de-addiction centres and whether district-level targets are formalised under the campaign's expanded rollout.
Point of View
Not merely an administrative exercise. Yamunanagar's selection is strategically significant — border districts with industrial corridors have historically been pressure points in Punjab-linked narcotics flows, and placing the CM at such an event reinforces law-and-order credibility. The marathon format is also politically shrewd: it generates organic, photogenic community engagement that transcends party lines. If the campaign extends systematically to all districts, it could become a defining social-welfare plank for the Saini administration ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Yuva Marathon flagged off by CM Saini in Yamunanagar?
The Yuva Marathon is a youth-participation running event held in Yamunanagar on 26 July 2026 as part of Haryana's anti-drug awareness campaign, flagged off by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini under the slogan 'Nashe se jung, Yamunanagar ke sung' — 'War against drugs, together with Yamunanagar.'
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and how is Haryana involved?
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a national anti-drug demand-reduction programme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in August 2020. Haryana has been running district-level de-addiction and awareness drives under the scheme since 2021–22, covering vulnerable districts including Yamunanagar.
Why is Yamunanagar specifically targeted for anti-drug drives in Haryana?
Yamunanagar is a northern Haryana district bordering Punjab and Himachal Pradesh with a large industrial and student population. It has featured in state anti-narcotics action plans due to reported transit routes and elevated youth vulnerability to substance abuse.
Who is Nayab Singh Saini and when did he become Haryana Chief Minister?
Nayab Singh Saini is a BJP leader who became Chief Minister of Haryana in March 2024, succeeding Manohar Lal Khattar.
Will similar anti-drug marathons be held in other Haryana districts?
Chief Minister Saini's post indicates the campaign aims to bring positive social change across all of Haryana, suggesting similar youth marathon events may be extended to other districts, though specific schedules have not been officially announced.
