Drug-Free Youth Campaign: 'My Health, My Pride' Program Held Across 167 Institutions, 1.75 Lakh Participate

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through the National Service Scheme (NSS), organized the 'My Health, My Pride' activities across the country on September 25, 2026, as part of the 'Drug-Free for Developed India – 100 Weeks Drug-Free Youth Campaign.' The primary objective of this initiative was to promote better health, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle among the youth, while creating awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse.

This nationwide campaign was conducted across 167 educational institutions and their adopted villages, with a total of 1,75,368 people participating. As part of the program, health check-ups and BMI assessments were conducted for 48,556 youth aged between 15 and 18 years. This process was completed in coordination with district health authorities and medical officers from the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).

To increase awareness, two special sessions were conducted by experts. The first session, 'Importance of Nutrition and Good Health,' saw the participation of 64,938 attendees, where doctors discussed healthy lifestyles. The second session, 'Impact of Drugs on Good Health,' was attended by 61,874 youth and focused on the adverse effects of narcotic substances. Additionally, approximately 62,000 youth took a pledge to remain drug-free.

According to the data, young women constituted 53.0 percent of participants in the nutrition and health sessions and 52.6 percent in the drug-free sessions. In the program, 95 institutions hosted local leaders, dignitaries, and medical professionals who inaugurated the camps and interacted with the youth.

This initiative is part of a broader 100-week framework based on four pillars: prevention, protection, recovery, and leadership. The first phase focuses on themes such as 'My Health, My Pride,' 'Healthy Youth, Drug-Free Youth,' and 'Life Skills Month.'

In some regions, activities had to be postponed due to regional events and weather conditions. Programs were deferred in Bihar and Jharkhand due to Anant Chaturdashi, in Maharashtra and Goa due to Ganesh Visarjan, and in six institutions in Andhra Pradesh due to severe cyclonic conditions. These events will be rescheduled for a later date.