K.T. Parnaik urges families, schools and communities to work together to prevent substance abuse and build a drug-free society
ITANAGAR (Economy India): Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd.) K.T. Parnaik has called for a sustained people’s movement against substance abuse, urging families, educational institutions and communities to work together to prevent drug use and promote a drug-free society.
Addressing the winners and participants of declamation and painting competitions organised under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar, Parnaik described substance abuse as one of the serious social challenges facing the country.
He also urged citizens to remain alert to the early warning signs of substance abuse and stressed the importance of collective action involving young people, families, schools and communities.
Governor Calls for Collective Action Against Drug Abuse
Parnaik said the fight against substance abuse cannot be addressed through enforcement alone and requires sustained participation from society.
Families, he said, have an important role in identifying behavioural changes at an early stage, while educational institutions can contribute through awareness, counselling and positive engagement with students.
Community participation can further strengthen prevention efforts by creating supportive environments for young people and encouraging healthier choices.
The Governor has previously advocated a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to tackling substance abuse, including stronger counselling and rehabilitation networks, anti-drug mechanisms in educational institutions and greater youth participation in sports and community activities.
Youth Participation at the Centre of Anti-Drug Campaign
The latest programme at Lok Bhavan used declamation and painting competitions to involve young people directly in the anti-drug campaign.
The competitions were designed to encourage students to understand the harmful effects of substance abuse and communicate the message of a healthier and drug-free society through speech and creative expression.
According to reports from the Governor’s office, 31 students from higher educational institutions across Arunachal Pradesh participated in the declamation competition, while 35 school students took part in the painting competition.
Parnaik praised the participants for their confidence, clarity of thought and sense of social responsibility. He also said such platforms can help young people develop public-speaking skills while encouraging them to think critically about issues affecting their communities.
Students From Across Arunachal Pradesh Participate
The declamation competition brought together students from several higher educational institutions, including Arunachal Pradesh University, Pasighat; Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar; Binni Yanga Government Women’s College, Jote; Jarbom Gamlin Law College, Jote; Dorjee Khandu Government College, Tawang; NERIST, Nirjuli; Arunodaya University; Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai; Apex Professional University, Pasighat; IGTAMSU, Ziro; and Don Bosco College, Itanagar.
The painting competition involved students from schools in and around the state capital, including government schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas and Don Bosco School, Jollang.
The participation from institutions in different parts of the state gave the programme a wider youth-focused dimension.
Awareness and Early Intervention
The Governor’s emphasis on recognising the early signs of substance abuse reflects the importance of prevention and timely intervention.
Awareness programmes can help students and families understand the potential consequences of substance use and encourage people facing addiction-related problems to seek appropriate support.
Parnaik has previously stressed that combating substance abuse should involve prevention, awareness, counselling, rehabilitation and reintegration, rather than focusing only on enforcement.
In July, he called for anti-drug cells and counselling mechanisms in universities, district-level anti-drug task forces, community-based counselling and de-addiction networks, as well as greater use of sports and youth engagement in prevention efforts.
From Awareness Campaign to Jan Andolan
The Governor has sought to broaden the anti-drug campaign into a sustained public movement.
In August, after participating in the nationwide Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, Parnaik called for a sustained people-centric campaign against substance abuse. He also proposed organising anti-drug street shows every Sunday for 100 days to spread awareness and mobilise communities, particularly young people.
The approach places young people at the centre of prevention efforts while also emphasising the role of families, educational institutions, civil society and local communities.
Education Institutions Can Play a Key Role
Schools and colleges are important platforms for prevention because they provide opportunities to reach young people before substance-use problems become entrenched.
Awareness sessions, counselling facilities, sports and extracurricular activities can help students develop healthy coping mechanisms and positive social connections.
Parnaik has argued that educational institutions should become centres of awareness and prevention, while communities should play a larger role in supporting young people and individuals recovering from addiction.
Rehabilitation and Reintegration Also Important
The Governor has also highlighted the need to strengthen rehabilitation and support systems for people affected by substance dependence.
A comprehensive response requires access to counselling, treatment and de-addiction services, along with opportunities for recovered individuals to rebuild their lives through education, skills and employment.
Such an approach can complement awareness and enforcement measures by addressing both prevention and recovery.
Arunachal’s Continued Focus on Drug-Free Youth
The latest Lok Bhavan programme is part of Parnaik’s continuing campaign to increase public awareness about substance abuse in Arunachal Pradesh.
The use of competitions, youth interactions and community-focused initiatives reflects an effort to make young people active participants in the campaign rather than passive recipients of awareness messages.
The Governor’s broader message is that creating a drug-free society requires sustained participation across generations — beginning with families and educational institutions and extending to communities and public agencies.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor K.T. Parnaik’s call for a people-driven movement against substance abuse places prevention, youth participation and community involvement at the centre of the state’s anti-drug efforts.
The declamation and painting competitions at Lok Bhavan provided students with a platform to discuss the dangers of substance abuse and promote the idea of a healthier society.
For the campaign to have a lasting impact, the emphasis on awareness will need to be supported by early intervention, counselling, rehabilitation and sustained community participation.
(Economy India0
