Raksha Khadse Calls for People’s Movement Against Drug Abuse

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Raksha Khadse, today called for a collective, mission-mode approach to combat the growing challenge of substance abuse among youth while addressing the “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat – Purvottar” programme organised by MY Bharat under the Department of Youth Affairs at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong.

The event was attended by Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs; Dr. Priyanka Shukla, CEO, MY Bharat; and Prof. Nalini Prava Tripathy, Director, IIM Shillong, among other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Raksha Khadse said that India’s youth population is the country’s greatest strength and emphasised that guiding young people in the right direction would be critical to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Raksha Khadse also underlined the importance of sports as a transformative social force capable of positively engaging young people and reducing vulnerability to addiction, stress and social isolation.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Nalini Prava Tripathy, Director, IIM Shillong, said sports and management education together play an important role in shaping responsible citizens and future leaders. She observed that sports help reduce stress and anxiety while promoting discipline, teamwork and collaboration among youth.(UPDATED ON 28TH MAY 2026)