Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday, 2 August said that the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 can only be achieved through a healthy, disciplined, and drug-free younger generation. He made the remarks while virtually attending the nationwide launch of the 'Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan', a mass anti-drug campaign targeting India's youth.

Programme Launch and PM Modi's Address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the campaign through a nationwide virtual interaction with youth from New Delhi. Speaking at the event, Modi stressed that as India pursues the goal of a developed nation by 2047, its youth must remain physically and mentally fit, self-confident, and permanently free from destructive habits such as drug use. He urged every citizen — particularly the young — to join the movement.

The Manipur leg of the programme was held at the auditorium of Manipur University, Imphal, organised by the NSS Cell, Manipur University in collaboration with the State NSS Cell under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

CM Khemchand Singh's Personal Appeal

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh drew on personal experience, recalling that he had consciously chosen to stay away from narcotics — a decision he credited with enabling him to dedicate his life to public service. He urged Manipur's youth to make similar choices and become responsible citizens capable of steering the state toward a better future.

He also raised concern over what he described as organised networks supplying drugs to young people through various channels, citing interactions with multiple NGOs. The Chief Minister assured that the government remains committed to intensifying its crackdown on drug trafficking and shielding the youth from the harms of substance abuse.

Manipur's Strategic Role and the Railway Link

Khemchand Singh highlighted Manipur's growing strategic importance under India's Act East Policy, describing the state as poised to become the gateway to Southeast Asia. He informed the audience that the government is working towards completing and operationalising the railway network to Imphal by December 2028, a project expected to strengthen connectivity, trade, and economic ties extending toward Moreh and neighbouring countries.

He emphasised, however, that these opportunities can be fully realised only if the younger generation remains free from the drug menace — framing a drug-free society as a prerequisite for economic progress.

Ethnic Crisis and the Call for Peace

The Chief Minister also addressed the ongoing ethnic crisis that has gripped Manipur for the past three years, appealing to all communities to move forward with mutual understanding and work collectively toward restoring lasting peace. He reiterated that the government will ensure accountability for those responsible for acts of violence, while continuing efforts to bridge the trust deficit among communities and facilitate free and secure movement across the state.

He stressed that peace remains the foundation of all development, and that without social stability, neither economic nor individual progress is sustainable.

University and Pledge Ceremony

Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, Prof. R.K. Hemakumar Singh, also addressed the gathering, urging students to honour the anti-drug pledge by becoming awareness ambassadors in their localities, schools, and colleges. A formal pledge for a drug-free India was administered during the programme, reaffirming participants' commitment to reject intoxicants and spread awareness against substance abuse.

As the campaign rolls out nationally, the focus now shifts to whether such awareness drives translate into measurable reductions in drug dependency — particularly in states like Manipur, where the problem has historically been acute.