ABVP's nationwide campaign strives for drugs-free India

MANGALURU: Growing influence of drugs and alcohol on Gen Y is on the radar of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. The student body's nationwide campaign 'Nasha Mukth Bharath' aims at awakening the youth to the perils of drug consumption. It also seeks to address another major problem -- the influx of drugs from the porous borders to college campus of what ABVP terms is the drug supply line. The campaign that got under way on January 12 will end on January 30. Incidentally, ABVP has chosen two epochal days in Indian history -- the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (January 12) and death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (January 30) to undertake its campaign. "These days are significant in that while Vivekananda is a youth icon, Gandhi is an apostle of peace who always exhorted people to abjure alcohol," said Shrihari Borikar, national general secretary of ABVP explaining the significance of the timing the campaign. Referring to Punjab, Srihari told TOI that the state that once saw 17% of its youth serve in the armed forces, presently accounts for just 1% of its youth on the job. The average age of youth in Atari village in Amritsar district bordering Pakistan is now 19 to 25 years, which explains the severity of the problem and how drugs are killing India's youth even before it can blossom, he said adding the campaign will home in on these hard truths to drive home the point. Noting that drugs flow from Myanmar and Pakistan borders in to India, Srihari said there is a well-established drug supply line that sees these drugs land up on the doorsteps of schools and colleges across India. "We have taken up this matter with the ministry of home affairs by way of meetings and representations," he said adding the home minister Rajnath Singh has assured the organization that the union government will act decisively to contain the drug menace. The campaign is the result of a resolution adopted by ABVP at its national executive council held in the city last year as well as the 60th national conference held in Amritsar later last year. The aim is to ensure that there is mass movement against substance abuse of all kinds - drugs, tobacco, alcohol, he noted. Students will be administered an oath against drugs on January 23, Srihari said, adding that the ABVP activists will form human chains across the nation on January 30. -TOI