The Drug-Free India Drive Anniversary brought leaders, students and activists together in Fatehabad, and the Drug-Free India Drive Anniversary highlighted five years of nationwide efforts to curb addiction. Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi led the event on Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Vivek Bharti welcomed guests before the programme began with the national song Vande Mataram. Bedi said the campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had grown into a powerful social movement over the past five years.
He shared that more than 23.2 crore people took part in 7.39 lakh awareness activities. The outreach included 7.82 crore youth and 5.25 crore women. Over 17.11 lakh educational institutions and more than 20,000 master volunteers contributed to the mission.
Calling addiction a disease rather than a habit, Bedi encouraged families to support treatment instead of isolating addicts. He said 109 de-addiction centres currently operate across Haryana.
The campaign started in 10 major districts, including Rohtak, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa, and later expanded to Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula and Jhajjar. To involve youth, authorities continue organising essay competitions, rangoli activities, street plays and runs.
Bedi urged young people to stay united and strengthen the fight against drug abuse.
