Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a fervent appeal to citizens across India to unite in the fight against drug abuse, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard the nation’s youth and build a drug-free future. Speaking during his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address, the Prime Minister highlighted the growing momentum of the ‘Drug-Free Youth for a Developed India’ campaign, underscoring its aim of eradicating addiction and fostering a healthier society.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the campaign has transcended mere formality, attracting significant participation from a large number of individuals, particularly the youth. He stressed that this collective resolve is vital for the health, happiness, and bright future of India’s young population. The Prime Minister reiterated that drug addiction’s impact extends far beyond the individual, inflicting severe consequences on families and society as a whole. He took the opportunity to commend those actively engaged in raising awareness and supporting individuals battling addiction.
The ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ (NMBA), or Drug-Free India campaign, stands as a cornerstone initiative of the government. This comprehensive program is designed to combat substance abuse through multifaceted strategies, encompassing extensive awareness generation, active community participation, accessible treatment facilities, robust rehabilitation services, post-treatment aftercare, and successful social reintegration of affected individuals.
In addition to the anti-drug campaign, Prime Minister Modi also drew attention to the significant impact of the PM SVANidhi Yojana, a welfare scheme tailored for street vendors. He noted that this initiative is empowering lakhs of women, enabling them to strengthen their small businesses. These women, engaged in diverse street-side vending activities such as selling vegetables, fruits, flowers, and religious materials, often face capital constraints that hinder their growth. The PM SVANidhi Yojana is providing them with the necessary financial support to expand their enterprises.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the role of women in economic empowerment through this scheme is often underappreciated, with women constituting approximately 46 percent of the scheme’s beneficiaries. This translates to around 35 lakh women nationwide who are leveraging the scheme to grow their businesses. He cited examples of women from Ghaziabad and Bengaluru who have successfully enhanced their livelihoods through the scheme, illustrating how a woman’s business growth directly contributes to her family’s advancement, including better education for children and increased self-confidence.
The radio address also touched upon the patriotic fervor associated with the month of August. Prime Minister Modi recalled the significance of National Handloom Day, the anniversary of the Quit India Movement, and the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, all of which imbue the month with nationalistic sentiment. The Independence Day and the newly designated National Space Day further contribute to this sense of national pride.
He further elaborated on the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, which amplifies patriotic feelings, and this year’s observance was made more special by the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’. The Prime Minister described the global reach of the tricolour this year through the ‘Suryapath Tiranga’ initiative, where the national flag was unfurled sequentially across various time zones, from Suva, Fiji, to Indian Missions and Posts in Asia, Africa, Europe, and San Francisco.
Highlighting advancements in India’s space capabilities, Prime Minister Modi referenced the ‘Mission ShaktiSAT’ initiative. This program aims to foster interest in satellite technology and innovation among young women. He proudly announced that 12,000 girl students from 108 countries are participating in this initiative, with preparations underway to launch a satellite developed entirely by these students into lunar orbit. The Prime Minister also spoke about the growing popularity and demand for avocados, noting its benefit to farmers who are increasingly cultivating the fruit for additional income, and shared inspirational stories of individuals making significant contributions in various fields.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
