500 youths from 6 states join SAI drug-free campaign in Gandhinagar
Synopsis
Five hundred young people from across six states converged on Gandhinagar for an SAI-led drug-awareness camp that combined Lagori, tug of war, and Zumba with an anti-substance pledge — a grassroots attempt to wire fitness culture into the government's 'Viksit Bharat by 2047' narrative.
Key Takeaways
500 youths from Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu participated.
The event was organised by SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar in collaboration with MY Bharat under the Fit India Movement .
Theme: 'Nasha Mukt Yuva, Viksit Bharat' , linking youth drug-free living to the vision of a developed India by 2047 .
Mountaineer and Fit India brand ambassador Nisha Kumari administered the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' pledge at the event.
Activities included traditional games such as Lagori , tug of war, sack race, a Fitness Challenge, and a Zumba session.
Around 500 young people drawn from six states and a Union Territory gathered at the Heartfulness Centre in Gandhinagar on 25 October 2026 for a drug-awareness drive organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), using traditional Indian games, fitness challenges, and Zumba to promote a healthy, substance-free lifestyle. The event was held under the theme 'Nasha Mukt Yuva, Viksit Bharat' — a vision that links youth well-being to India's development goals for 2047.
Who Participated and How
Participants travelled from Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, as well as the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. They were divided into state-wise teams that competed across a range of physical and awareness-based activities, including Lagori, tug of war, sack race, a 'Nasha Mukt Bharat'-themed snakes-and-ladders game, a 'Knock Out Nasha' can toss, a 'Choose Fitness' ring toss, the Fit India Fitness Challenge, and a penalty shoot-out. A Zumba session rounded off the group-fitness component.
What the Experts Said
Mountaineer and Fit India Movement brand ambassador Nisha Kumari delivered the opening address and administered the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' pledge, in which participants committed to avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Reflecting on the event, Kumari noted: 'I really liked today's event, as it conveys the message of de-addiction to young people while also reviving traditional games that were once widely played. Many of these games are unfamiliar to today's youth, so it is encouraging to see them being introduced through such initiatives.'
SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar Assistant Director Ishtpreet Kaur was present at the event and felicitated Kumari with a memento in recognition of her contribution to the initiative.
The Policy Vision Behind the Campaign
District Youth Officer Ayush underlined the programme's broader ambition: 'We want our country to become completely free from drugs, and we want young people to stay away from substance abuse so that we can realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. With this objective, various initiatives are being undertaken to channel the energy of young people in the right direction.' The event was organised by SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar under the Fit India Movement in collaboration with MY Bharat, a national youth platform. Sachin Sharma, state director of MY Bharat Gujarat, and Vishal Nagarale, Jamnagar district youth officer, were among the officials present.
Why Traditional Games Were Central
One of the deliberate design choices of the programme was the use of indigenous games such as Lagori — a stacked-stone game once ubiquitous in Indian schoolyards but increasingly marginalised by digital entertainment. Organisers framed these games as both a vehicle for physical fitness and a cultural re-connection for a generation that has grown up largely unfamiliar with them. This approach mirrors similar SAI-led outreach events held in other states, where traditional play has been positioned as an antidote to sedentary lifestyles and associated risk behaviours. The programme concluded with the felicitation of winners across the traditional games and fitness activity zones.
Point of View
But the SAI's decision to anchor traditional games like Lagori at the centre of this campaign is a meaningful signal. It tacitly acknowledges that the cultural displacement of indigenous play has left a behavioural vacuum — one that screen time and, in more vulnerable contexts, substance use have partly filled. The multi-state participation adds logistical ambition, though 500 participants across a single-day event is a modest number when set against India's youth population. The real test of such campaigns is whether the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' pledge translates into measurable community-level behaviour change, or remains a well-photographed moment without a follow-up mechanism.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the drug-free campaign organised by SAI in Gandhinagar?
The Sports Authority of India organised a drug-awareness programme at the Heartfulness Centre in Gandhinagar on 25 October 2026, bringing together around 500 youths from six states and a Union Territory. The event used traditional Indian games, fitness challenges, and Zumba to promote substance-free living under the theme 'Nasha Mukt Yuva, Viksit Bharat'.
Which states and territories participated in the SAI Gandhinagar drug-awareness event?
Participants came from Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, as well as the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. They competed in state-wise teams across a series of sporting and awareness activities.
What is the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' pledge?
The 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' pledge is a commitment by participants to stay away from tobacco, alcohol, and drugs and make healthier daily choices. At the Gandhinagar event, mountaineer and Fit India Movement brand ambassador Nisha Kumari administered the pledge to all 500 attendees.
What is the Fit India Movement and how does this event connect to it?
The Fit India Movement is a government-backed initiative that encourages Indians to integrate physical activity and fitness into their daily lives. The Gandhinagar event was organised by SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar under this movement in collaboration with MY Bharat, using sport and traditional games to extend the campaign's anti-substance-abuse messaging.
What traditional games were featured at the Gandhinagar drug-awareness camp?
The event included Lagori, tug of war, and sack race — traditional Indian games that organisers used to promote teamwork, physical fitness, and cultural reconnection among youth. A 'Nasha Mukt Bharat'-themed snakes-and-ladders game and a Zumba session were also part of the programme.
