Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launches 'Drug-Free Mumbai' campaign

Maharashtra Chief Minister CM Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday launched the DrugFree Mumbai campaign and called upon citizens to collectively work towards creating a drugfree Mumbai Maharashtra and IndiaLaunching the campaign at the Worli Dome CM Fadnavis said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a Nashamukt Bharat DrugFree India can only be achieved through coordinated efforts by governments institutions and citizensFadnavis while administering a pledge for a drugfree society to those present said The fight against substance abuse is a collective struggle for the nations future To realise the dream of a drugfree India we must first resolve to build a drugfree Mumbai and drugfree MaharashtraMaharashtra Government to eradicate drugpeddling networkFadnavis said India is making rapid strides in science technology artificial intelligence space research and defence but warned that narcotics are being used as a tool to weaken the countrys youth He described drugs as the most dangerous weapon in this covert war and urged every citizen to treat the fight against addiction as a personal responsibilityCalling for a multiagency approach the Chief Minister said departments including police health social justice and school education must work together with parents teachers students and community organisations to prevent substance abuse He reiterated that the government would continue taking strict action against those involved in the manufacture trafficking and sale of narcoticsWe will completely eradicate drug peddling networks especially those operating near schools and colleges he saidDrugFree Mumbai in two to four yearsFadnavis appealed directly to students saying that if young people firmly resolved to say no to drugs no one would be able to lure them into addiction He expressed confidence that the government could achieve the goal of a DrugFree Mumbai within the next two to four years through sustained public participationDescribing students as the eyes and ears of society the Chief Minister urged them to report instances of drug abuse and trafficking He announced that the identities of informants would remain confidential and that those providing credible information would be rewardedFadnavis also said that letters would be sent to school headmasters and college principals across Maharashtra to implement the concepts of DrugFree School and DrugFree Campus with the government extending full support for the initiativeHighlighting rehabilitation as an equally important aspect of the campaign Fadnavis said that efforts would focus on helping addicted youth return to the mainstream He noted that individuals who remain free from substance abuse until the age of 21 or 22 are significantly less likely to develop addiction later in lifeQuoting Swami Vivekananda Fadnavis said the countrys youth must become a constructive force for nationbuilding rather than a destructive force for society Invoking the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar he urged citizens to translate the pledge for a drugfree society into everyday actionAddressing the gathering Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the DrugFree Mumbai initiative should evolve into a peoples movement rather than remain only a government campaignLodha said Public participation is essential if we are to eliminate the menace of drugs from the city Every citizen has a social responsibility to contribute towards this missionMaharashtra to launch CM Mahadhan Skill Development Scheme on August 15He further said that awareness programmes counselling sessions and addictionprevention initiatives would be conducted across schools colleges and educational institutions while appealing to parents teachers NGOs and citizens to work together to safeguard the future of childrenLodha also announced that the state government would launch the CM Mahadhan Skill Development Scheme on August 15 Under its first phase one lakh young men and women will receive skill training selfemployment guidance and other support aimed at enhancing employment opportunitiesEarlier Mumbai Suburban Collector Saurabh Katiyar said the DrugFree Mumbai campaign forms part of the centres broader goal of achieving a drugfree nation by 2029 He said a highlevel committee chaired by Lodha has been constituted to spearhead awareness campaigns counselling initiatives and preventive measures particularly among students to curb drug addiction