Massive Youth Participation Marks Sixth Year of NMBA
The event was organised by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Goa. It marked the sixth year of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which has evolved into a nationwide people’s movement.
While thousands attended physically, many more joined virtually through online platforms, amplifying the campaign’s message and reinforcing its identity as a true Jan Andolan.
Top Leaders Reaffirm Commitment
The rally was attended by Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, and Goa’s Social Welfare Minister Shri Subhash Phal Desai, along with senior officials and community leaders.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sawant underlined Goa’s commitment to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 ahead of time, with a target of transforming the state into a fully developed Viksit Goa by 2037. He stressed that building a drug-free Goa remains central to this roadmap.
Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar praised the transformation of NMBA into a citizen-driven movement. He highlighted the crucial role played by youth, women, educational institutions and spiritual organisations in strengthening grassroots awareness.
Pledge, Performances and Public Engagement
The highlight of the event was a mass pledge-taking ceremony, where participants committed to rejecting substance abuse and spreading awareness within their communities. The pledge was taken both physically at the venue and digitally by online participants.
Cultural performances by students and youth groups added energy to the event, portraying the vision of a healthy and addiction-free India. Volunteers, NGOs and key contributors were felicitated for their dedication to the campaign.
Informational stalls set up by the National Institute of Social Defence, AYUSH representatives, the Health Department, Alcoholics Anonymous and spiritual organisations provided guidance, counselling resources and awareness material.
Widespread Institutional Support
The rally witnessed participation from school and college students, NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, My Bharat members, youth clubs, police personnel, civil society organisations and members of the public.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched on August 15, 2020, initially focused on 272 vulnerable districts and has since expanded to cover all districts across India. According to official data available on the Press Information Bureau and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment portals, the campaign has sensitised over 25 crore people nationwide.
More than 9 crore youth and 6 crore women have been engaged through targeted outreach programmes. Additionally, over 16 lakh educational institutions have participated in awareness drives and activities under the mission.
Spiritual and Community Partnerships
The campaign’s impact has been strengthened through partnerships with major spiritual organisations and community groups, which have helped take the message of drug prevention to the grassroots level. Digital outreach via social media platforms and the dedicated NMBA portal continues to expand the campaign’s reach.
Recent national milestones include the fifth anniversary celebration in Delhi in August 2025 and a major mobilisation event at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in November 2025, both of which witnessed significant public participation.
A Growing National Movement
The Goa rally underscored the growing momentum of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and the determination of India’s youth to lead change. By blending policy commitment with community participation, the initiative continues to strengthen the fight against substance abuse.
As the voices of thousands echoed through the stadium in Bambolim, the message was clear a drug-free India is not just a government objective, but a collective national responsibility.
