Starting July 16, colleges and universities across the country have begun hosting a new youth outreach programme that combines two ideas the government has increasingly been pushing together: building a developed India by 2047 and tackling substance abuse among young people.The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), rolled out the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme (VBYCP) from July 16 to August 15 under the theme ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat’.The month-long campaign will take place in higher educational institutions and will focus on engaging students through discussions, awareness sessions and digital participation on the MY Bharat platform.
A campaign centred on campuses
The programme is aimed primarily at young people between the ages of 15 and 25, including students from rural, urban and tribal areas.Rather than relying only on lectures, the campaign plans to bring youth leaders into classrooms and campuses to speak directly with students about substance abuse and civic participation.The government says the idea is to encourage young people to see a drug-free society as part of the broader goal of achieving Viksit Bharat@2047, the national vision of making India a developed country by its centenary of Independence.
Youth icons to lead awareness sessions
A key part of the campaign will be interactions with youth achievers drawn from different government initiatives.These include State Champions of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD), winners of the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament, National Service Scheme (NSS) Awardees, National Youth Awardees and other youth leaders.They will visit educational institutions to speak about India’s development journey while discussing how substance abuse can affect education, employment and long-term aspirations.
Awareness films and anti-drug pledge
Students attending the programme will also watch a film on the impact of substance abuse, featuring experiences of affected individuals and families.The sessions will conclude with participants taking the Nasha Mukt Bharat Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to staying away from drugs and contributing to the country’s development.Wherever possible, the programme will also include interactions with recovery warriors in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and spiritual organisations, allowing participants to hear first-hand accounts of recovery from addiction.
MY Bharat registration to be part of the drive
The campaign is also expected to serve as an outreach exercise for MY Bharat itself.Facilitation desks will be set up at participating institutions so that students can register on the MY Bharat Portal and learn about youth development programmes run by the organisation.The ministry said banners, standees and digital publicity material will also be used to increase participation during the month-long campaign.
What happens after the campaign?
The programme is not designed as a one-time event.Educational institutions taking part may establish MY Bharat Chapters after the campaign, allowing future youth engagement activities to continue on campuses.All registrations and programme-related activities will be carried out through the MY Bharat Portal.The initiative adds another layer to the government’s campus outreach efforts.
