30 July,2026 05:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
CM Devendra Fadnavis launches Drug-Free Mumbai campaign, vows to eliminate drug peddling (Pic/Special arrangement)
Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday launched the 'Drug-Free Mumbai' campaign and called upon citizens to collectively work towards creating a drug-free Mumbai, Maharashtra and India.
Launching the campaign at the Worli Dome, CM Fadnavis said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Nashamukt Bharat' (Drug-Free India) can only be achieved through coordinated efforts by governments, institutions and citizens.
Fadnavis, while administering a pledge for a drug-free society to those present, said, "The fight against substance abuse is a collective struggle for the nation's future. To realise the dream of a drug-free India, we must first resolve to build a drug-free Mumbai and drug-free Maharashtra."
Fadnavis said India is making rapid strides in science, technology, artificial intelligence, space research and defence, but warned that narcotics are being used as a tool to weaken the country's youth. He described drugs as "the most dangerous weapon in this covert war" and urged every citizen to treat the fight against addiction as a personal responsibility.
Calling for a multi-agency approach, the Chief Minister said departments including police, health, social justice and school education must work together with parents, teachers, students and community organisations to prevent substance abuse. He reiterated that the government would continue taking strict action against those involved in the manufacture, trafficking and sale of narcotics.
"We will completely eradicate drug peddling networks, especially those operating near schools and colleges," he said.
Fadnavis appealed directly to students, saying that if young people firmly resolved to "say no to drugs," no one would be able to lure them into addiction. He expressed confidence that the government could achieve the goal of a Drug-Free Mumbai within the next two to four years through sustained public participation.
Describing students as the "eyes and ears of society," the Chief Minister urged them to report instances of drug abuse and trafficking. He announced that the identities of informants would remain confidential and that those providing credible information would be rewarded.
Fadnavis also said that letters would be sent to school headmasters and college principals across Maharashtra to implement the concepts of 'Drug-Free School' and 'Drug-Free Campus', with the government extending full support for the initiative.
Highlighting rehabilitation as an equally important aspect of the campaign, Fadnavis said that efforts would focus on helping addicted youth return to the mainstream. He noted that individuals who remain free from substance abuse until the age of 21 or 22 are significantly less likely to develop addiction later in life.
Quoting Swami Vivekananda, Fadnavis said the country's youth must become a constructive force for nation-building rather than a destructive force for society. Invoking the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bharat Ratna Dr B.R. Ambedkar, he urged citizens to translate the pledge for a drug-free society into everyday action.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the 'Drug-Free Mumbai' initiative should evolve into a people's movement rather than remain only a government campaign.
Lodha said, "Public participation is essential if we are to eliminate the menace of drugs from the city. Every citizen has a social responsibility to contribute towards this mission."
He further said that awareness programmes, counselling sessions and addiction-prevention initiatives would be conducted across schools, colleges and educational institutions, while appealing to parents, teachers, NGOs and citizens to work together to safeguard the future of children.
Lodha also announced that the state government would launch the CM Mahadhan Skill Development Scheme on August 15. Under its first phase, one lakh young men and women will receive skill training, self-employment guidance and other support aimed at enhancing employment opportunities.
Earlier, Mumbai Suburban Collector Saurabh Katiyar said the 'Drug-Free Mumbai' campaign forms part of the centre's broader goal of achieving a drug-free nation by 2029. He said a high-level committee chaired by Lodha has been constituted to spearhead awareness campaigns, counselling initiatives and preventive measures, particularly among students, to curb drug addiction.
