Bhubaneswar, August 2: The Odisha government has pledged to create a completely drug-free state. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a 100-week public movement to combat drug addiction.
This announcement was made during a special event at Kalinga Stadium, marking the launch of the “Nasha Mukt Bharat aur Vikasit Bharat 2047” campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from New Delhi.
Alongside Chief Minister Majhi, Governor Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati, Minister of Sports and Youth Services Surya Banshi Suraj, and hundreds of students participated in the national program organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the “My India” initiative, which was addressed by the Prime Minister. Governor Dr. Kambhampati administered the oath for the “Nasha Mukt Yuva – Vikasit Bharat Pratigya Abhiyan” to all attendees.
Highlighting the role of youth as key contributors to nation-building, Governor Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati made a strong appeal for a drug-free society during the state-level event. He encouraged young people to adopt sports, fitness, yoga, value-based living, and community service as alternatives to addiction. Noting that Odisha has emerged as one of the country’s major sports hubs, he urged youth to choose sports fields and classrooms over drugs to realize their true potential.
The Governor emphasized, “A drug-free society cannot be achieved solely through government efforts. It can only become a revolutionary ‘people’s movement’ when parents, teachers, social organizations, and especially the youth take up the torch of this movement.”
Addressing the youth, Chief Minister Majhi stated that this campaign is not a one-day event but a large-scale social movement that will continue uninterrupted for the next 100 weeks, or nearly two years. Notably, in a virtual presence of PM Modi, over one crore youth gathered at more than 10,000 locations across the country, pledging to create a healthy, disciplined, value-based, and drug-free India.
Praising the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, the Chief Minister remarked that Generation Z and the youth are the main architects of a ‘Developed India‘ by 2047. He warned that addiction is no longer just a health issue; it destroys well-being, disrupts family finances, and poses significant barriers to the state’s socio-economic progress.
He stated that the Odisha government has adopted a ‘zero tolerance’ policy to completely eradicate illegal drug trade and syndicates operating in the state.
Providing details on police actions, Chief Minister Majhi reported that between July 2024 and June 2026, police destroyed illegal cannabis cultivation spread over 63,720 acres, valued at approximately ₹1,911 crores. During this period, 2,576 cases were registered, 3,699 suspects were arrested, and 432 tons of cannabis worth ₹2,106 crores were seized. In addition to strict law enforcement, the government is also strengthening treatment and rehabilitation centers for those affected by drug addiction.
The Chief Minister urged the public to report any suspicious drug-related activities in their areas to the police immediately.
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