Drug-Free Youth Campaign: First Month Concludes with 'Yuva Samvad Mela' as Over 1.06 Lakh People Participate

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized a nationwide 'Yuva Samvad Mela' on October 9, 2026, through 'My Bharat' and the National Service Scheme (NSS). This event marked the conclusion of the first month of a 100-week resolution campaign based on the theme 'My Health, My Pride'. Under this campaign, a total of 1,06,855 people participated across 200 selected institutions and their adopted villages. The primary objective of the fair was to bring together youth and community members to raise awareness about the prevention of substance abuse and encourage a healthier society.

Implemented through 15 regional directorates of the NSS, the initiative set a target of 200 institutions, which was fully achieved. According to the data, 93,662 youth participated in the campaign, while 13,193 other citizens were reached through special outreach activities in villages and slum areas. The campaign saw active participation from women, with 48,269 female and 45,618 male participants taking part.

Three major activities were conducted under the 'Yuva Samvad Mela'. First, under the 'Yuva Samvad' component, 509 interactive seminars and open forums were organized, attended by 36,086 youth. These sessions focused on the root causes of addiction, peer pressure, and prevention strategies. In the second phase, NSS volunteers set up 396 information stalls and kiosks to provide information on the physical and mental consequences of drug abuse and available counseling services. In the third phase, the message of a drug-free India was conveyed to 24,944 people through 587 cultural programs, including street plays and musical performances.

Utilizing digital platforms, youth ambassadors shared 935 social media posts using the hashtag #NashaMuktYuva. Following the success of the first month, the second month will focus on the theme 'Healthy Youth, Drug-Free Youth'. The next phase aims to encourage youth toward physical fitness and sports, enabling them to adopt physical activity as a critical means of preventing drug abuse.