Varanasi (UP): 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 reels.
He 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 noted.
In 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 age.
He 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 said.
Mandaviya 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 addiction.
Stressing 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 outcomes.
The 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 leaders.
The 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.
