As India marks its 78th Independence Day, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) enters its fifth year. To commemorate this milestone, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is organizing a nationwide mass pledge ceremony against drug abuse. On August 12, 2024, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, will lead the Mass Pledge on NMBA with students at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. The event’s theme is ‘Viksit Bharat ka Mantra, Bharat ho Nashe se Swatantra.’
Participants in the pledge will include representatives from State and UT Governments, Central Ministries, as well as students and faculty from schools, colleges, universities, and institutions such as IITs, IIMs, and polytechnic colleges. The ceremony will also see participation from NCC, NYKS, and other public institutions, many of whom will join online.
Substance use disorder is a pressing issue that undermines the social fabric of the nation, affecting not only individuals but also their families and society at large. Continuous use of psychoactive substances can lead to addiction, with severe consequences including neuro-psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, accidents, suicides, and violence. As such, substance use and dependence must be addressed as a comprehensive psycho-social-medical issue.
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the NMBA on August 15, 2020. Since August 2023, it has been implemented across all districts in the country. The initiative seeks to reach out to the masses, spreading awareness about substance use, especially in higher educational institutions and university campuses. NMBA also focuses on providing counseling and treatment facilities in hospitals and rehabilitation centers while building capacity among service providers.
