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Hindustan Times
21-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Kashi Declaration advocates consensus against drug abuse
The Youth Spiritual Summit on the theme Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat concluded at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi on Sunday with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration that affirmed a national consensus to tackle substance abuse as the event marked a key moment in the country's journey toward a drug-free society by 2047. Dr Mansukh Mandaviya speaking at the Youth Spiritual Summit on the theme Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat in Varanasi on Sunday. (HT Photo) The Kashi Declaration also emphasised integrating spiritual, cultural, educational, and technological efforts to prevent addiction and support recovery. It proposed institutional mechanisms for multi-ministerial coordination, including the formation of a Joint National Committee, annual progress reporting and a national platform for linking affected individuals to support services. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the summit gathered over 600 youth leaders, representatives from 120+ spiritual and socio-cultural organisations, academicians, and domain experts. 'The Kashi Declaration is not just a document, but a shared Sankalp (resolve) for the Yuva Shakti of Bharat,' stated Union minister for youth affairs and sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya. 'Bharat's Spiritual strength has always guided Bharat through its crises. This is why spiritual institutions must now lead the charge in creating a Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat. They will serve as the backbone of this Maha Abhiyan,' he added. Himachal Pradesh governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said: 'This sacred land of Kashi is the cradle of Sanatan Chetna (eternal consciousness), where discipline and values guide life's journey towards moksha. We are not just gathering; we are sowing seeds that will one day grow into a strong tree of national transformation.' He further cautioned: 'If a nation where 65% of the population is youth falls prey to addiction, only those who break free from it will be able to build the future.' The summit featured deliberations across four plenary sessions. These deliberations formed the foundation of the Kashi Declaration that will serve as a guiding charter, with progress to be reviewed during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026. The keynote address of Session 4 was delivered by Nitin Agarwal, minister of state (independent charge) for excise and prohibition, Uttar Pradesh. Several dignitaries participated in sessions. They included Union minister for social justice and empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar, Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Uttar Pradesh minister for labour and employment Anil Rajbhar, Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai, Union minister of state for youth affairs and sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse and Uttar Pradesh sports minister Girish Chandra Yadav. Khadse highlighted the misuse of digital platforms targeting school children and reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy.
Hindustan Times
20-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Mandaviya calls for spiritual institutions to lead 'Nasha Mukt Yuva' campaign at Kashi Summit
Varanasi , Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday called on spiritual institutions to lead the campaign for a drug-free India, describing them as the backbone of the "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat" initiative. Mandaviya calls for spiritual institutions to lead 'Nasha Mukt Yuva' campaign at Kashi Summit Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the summit saw participation from over 600 youth leaders, over 120 spiritual and socio-cultural organisations, academicians, and domain experts. The event was seen as a key step towards achieving a drug-free society by 2047. Speaking at the Youth Spiritual Summit in Varanasi, where the Kashi Declaration was formally adopted, Mandaviya said, "Bharat's spiritual strength has always guided Bharat through its crises. This is why spiritual institutions must now lead the charge in creating a Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat." "We have reflected deeply over the last three days across diverse thematic sessions. Based on this collective discussion, the Kashi Declaration is born, not just as a document, but as a shared Sankalp for the Yuva Shakti of Bharat," the minister added. The Kashi Declaration affirms a national consensus to address substance abuse as a multi-faceted public health and societal challenge, and calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Key proposals include setting up a Joint National Committee, regular progress reporting, and a national support platform for affected individuals. The summit featured four plenary sessions on the psychological and societal impacts of drug abuse, trafficking networks, awareness strategies, and the role of spiritual and cultural bodies in rehabilitation and prevention. Echoing the spiritual tone of the summit, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said, "This sacred land of Kashi is the cradle of Sanatan Chetna, where discipline and values guide life's journey towards moksha. We are sowing seeds that will one day grow into a strong tree of national transformation." He warned that a country where 65 per cent of the population is youth cannot afford to fall into addiction. "Only those who break free from it will be able to build the future," he said. Under the MY Bharat framework, the summit has laid the foundation for a national youth-led anti-drug campaign. Volunteers and youth clubs will lead pledge campaigns, awareness drives, and community outreach efforts. The Kashi Declaration will serve as the charter for these initiatives and its progress will be reviewed during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in 2026. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Varanasi youth summit: Kashi Declaration adopted for drug-free society
Varanasi: The Kashi Declaration, affirming a national consensus to treat substance abuse as a multi-faceted public health and societal challenge and suggesting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, was adopted at the Youth Spiritual Summit here on Sunday. 'If a nation, where 65 per cent of the population is youth, falls prey to addiction, only those who break free from it will be able to build the future,' said Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya. Addressing the Summit, the Union Minister said, 'We have reflected deeply over the last three days across diverse thematic sessions. Based on this collective chintan, the Kashi Declaration is born, not just as a document, but as a shared sankalp for the Yuva Shakti of Bharat.' The Youth Spiritual Summit on the theme Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat culminated at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Summit brought together more than 600 youth leaders, representatives from over 120 spiritual and socio-cultural organisations, academicians, and domain experts. The event marked a defining moment in Bharat's journey toward a drug-free society by 2047. This gathering represented a national convergence of youthful energy, spiritual vision, and institutional resolve. The Summit featured four focused plenary sessions exploring key dimensions of substance abuse: its psychological and societal impacts, the mechanics of drug trafficking and supply chains, strategies for grassroots awareness campaigns, and the role of spiritual and cultural institutions in rehabilitation and prevention. These deliberations formed the foundation of the Kashi Declaration, which is a visionary commitment to collaborative action against drug addiction, rooted in India's civilizational wisdom and youth leadership. The Declaration emphasises the integration of spiritual, cultural, educational, and technological efforts to prevent addiction, support recovery, and foster a national culture of sobriety, said a statement. It proposes institutional mechanisms for multi-ministerial coordination, including the formation of a Joint National Committee, annual progress reporting, and a national platform for linking affected individuals to support services.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Youth free from addiction essential for India's development: Mandaviya
1 2 Varanasi: Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said India can become a developed nation only when the youth remain free from both digital and substance abuse. "We need to make our youth addiction-free to realise the dream of a developed India by 2047. Leaders of religious and social organisations must join the drug-free India campaign to keep our youth away from drugs, mobile phones and reels," Mandaviya said while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day 'Youth Spiritual Summit' at the Rudraksha Convention Centre on Saturday. The summit was launched by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with the theme 'Drug-Free Youth for a Developed India'. It brought together more than 600 participants representing 122 spiritual and socio-cultural organisations from all over the country. Mandaviya said on 15 Aug, 2022, during India's 76th Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his vision for the next 25 years through the 'Panch Pran' of Amrit Kaal. The minister emphasised that youth would play a vital role in transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, as 65% of the population is under the age of 35. "Our young generation must not only be seen as beneficiaries but also as changemakers who shape the future of the nation. However, substance abuse is one of the biggest threats facing youth today. Addiction is trapping them at a crucial point in life and posing a serious challenge to national progress," he said. The minister urged religious and social leaders to use their platforms to spread awareness among youth about staying away from addiction. "A single camp or limited efforts are not enough—we need a mass movement where every citizen pledges to inspire at least five others to join the anti-drug campaign," he said. The summit will conclude on Sunday with the release of the 'Kashi Declaration,' a document reflecting the collective vision and commitment of youth and spiritual leaders. This document will offer a detailed action plan for building a drug-free India and act as a guiding charter for policymakers, civil society organisations and youth networks working in the fields of de-addiction and rehabilitation. The summit features four thematic sessions focused on key areas: understanding addiction and its impact on youth; breaking drug trafficking networks and commercial interests; designing effective campaigns and outreach strategies; and building a long-term commitment toward a drug-free India by 2047.
India Today
19-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
India can develop if youth avoid drugs, reels, mobile addiction: Sports Minister
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said that to make India a developed nation by 2047, it is essential to keep the youth away from addictions of drugs, mobile phones, and social media made the statement while addressing a seminar titled 'drug-free youth for developed India' at the Youth Spiritual Summit in Varanasi."India can develop only when the youth stay away from drug addiction as well as mobile and reel addiction," the minister his address, Mandaviya referenced the 76th Independence Day celebrations in 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his vision for the next 25 years, highlighting that the youth will play a vital role in transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, given that 65 per cent of the population is under 35 years of emphasised the necessity of a drug-free environment to achieve this goal, underscoring that the youth should be viewed not merely as beneficiaries but as changemakers who will shape the nation's future."Drug abuse is one of the biggest threats facing the youth today. Drug addiction is gripping them at a crucial juncture of life, and it is a serious challenge to national progress," he reiterated that "to make India developed by 2047, we must keep our youth away from drugs, mobile phones and reels."He encouraged religious and social leaders to leverage their platforms to raise awareness among youth about the dangers of drug that a camp or limited efforts are not enough in this regard, he said, "We need a mass movement, where every citizen takes a pledge to motivate at least five others to join the anti-drug campaign."He expressed hope that the two-day summit would lead to valuable discussions and tangible summit is set to conclude on July 20 with the release of the 'Kashi Declaration,' a document reflecting the collective vision and commitment of youth and spiritual document will present an action plan for building a drug-free India and will serve as a guiding charter for policymakers, civil society organisations, and youth networks working in the field of de-addiction and rehabilitation.- Ends advertisement
