Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar on 26 June administered the 'Pledge Against Drug Abuse' and the 'Ageing with Dignity Pledge' at a national awareness programme held at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (DSVV), Haridwar, Uttarakhand, marking the government's renewed push toward a drug-free and inclusive India.

The event served as the culminating ceremony of Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah, observed from 17 June to 26 June to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Scale of the Campaign

The week-long Saptah mobilised more than 1.31 crore citizens through a series of awareness generation and community mobilisation activities across the country, according to an official statement. The culminating event at DSVV drew participation from 4,000 rally attendees, with thousands more joining online and offline.

Participants included students, youth volunteers, representatives of various spiritual organisations, officials from the Government of Uttarakhand, and local stakeholders. Representatives from States and Union Territories, line ministries and departments, Grant-in-Aid institutions, and Addiction Treatment Facilities also joined, reiterating their collective commitment to building a Nasha Mukt Bharat.

Key MoUs Signed

A significant development at the event was the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the All-World Gayatri Pariwar under two flagship programmes — the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) and the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY).

The MoUs are designed to deepen collaboration in awareness generation, community mobilisation, drug demand reduction, and the promotion of senior citizen welfare through the message of Ageing with Dignity.

Recognition and Awards

The programme also felicitated outstanding contributors, including Nasha Mukti Mitras recognised for their exemplary community outreach efforts. Winners of competitions organised by State Governments under the NMBA, along with high-performing stakeholders, were honoured for their contributions toward a drug-free society.

What Comes Next

The MoUs with the All-World Gayatri Pariwar are expected to extend the reach of both NMBA and AVYAY into grassroots spiritual and community networks, broadening the campaign's footprint beyond government channels. The Centre's sustained focus on demand reduction — rather than enforcement alone — signals a longer-term public health framing of the anti-drug effort.