Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 13: Mobilising young people to raise awareness about substance abuse and strengthen community-level prevention efforts was the focus of a Neighbourhood Youth Parliament organised by MY Bharat in Sri Vijaya Puram under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The programme, held for 2026–27 on the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva”, brought together around 60 participants at the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Disaster Management. Discussions centred on the role young people can play in advancing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
Dr M. K. Mahato, Medical Officer at the Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), South Andaman, attended the programme as chief guest. Deepak Kumar, District Youth Officer, MY Bharat, Sri Vijaya Puram, welcomed the participants.
The discussions highlighted the importance of youth participation in communicating the harmful effects of substance abuse, reaching peers and encouraging communities to work collectively towards a drug-free society. Participants also examined ways to strengthen youth-led awareness campaigns and broaden community involvement in prevention initiatives.
An interactive session allowed participants to share their views, raise challenges and suggest approaches to improving awareness and mobilisation efforts. The exchange provided an opportunity for young people to discuss how they could contribute to initiatives aimed at preventing substance abuse in their communities.
Mahato responded to questions raised by participants and delivered the concluding remarks, urging young people to contribute actively to the effort to build a drug-free society.
The programme placed youth engagement at the centre of the discussion, with participants considering how awareness campaigns and community participation could support the broader objective of a Nasha Mukt Bharat.
