Lucknow, Aug 2 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Sunday urged the youth not to limit themselves to merely staying away from drugs but also to raise awareness among families, friends, and the wider community about the adverse effects of substance abuse.
Addressing a programme virtually, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’, she advised that if anyone around them is struggling with addiction, they should encourage and uplift that person, providing the necessary support to help them move towards a drug-free life.
On this occasion, the Governor also administered an oath to the students and youth present, pledging to build a drug-free India, the Jan Bhavan said in a statement.
She said that every young person can become an agent of positive change in society, and through public awareness, the resolve for a drug-free India can be transformed into a mass movement.
Citing the example of Chainpurva village in Barabanki district, the UP Governor said that the village was once notorious for illicit liquor production, an activity in which many women were engaged because of their circumstances.
Under the leadership of the then Superintendent of Police, Dr Arvind Chaturvedi, an initiative was launched; today, they have completely abandoned the practice of illicit liquor production and have become financially self-reliant, she said.
Patel mentioned that upon learning of this transformative effort, she invited these women to ‘Jan Bhavan’ to honour them.
By engaging in various employment-oriented and income-generating programs, these women have demonstrated that change stems from firm determination rather than circumstances, the LG said.
She also said that, in a similar manner, women associated with the Hope Welfare Trust’s ‘Green Army’ were also invited to Jan Bhavan and felicitated.
The LG said they are bringing about positive social change by conducting public awareness campaigns regarding de-addiction, women’s empowerment, and the fight against domestic violence across various districts, including Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, and Varanasi.
Expressing concern that inspections of university hostels by Jan Bhavan officials often reveal disappointing conditions, she directed the Vice-Chancellor to take a strict approach regarding this matter and ensure regular monitoring of the hostels.
Uttar Pradesh is also successfully implementing various innovative measures and campaigns in the field of de-addiction, she said.
A seven-member ‘De-addiction Squad’ has been constituted for this purpose, tasked with conducting regular inspections across Jan Bhavan’s residential complexes to ensure a drug-free environment. PTI NAV AMJ AMJ
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