Starting July 16, colleges and universities across the country have started hosting a new youth outreach program that combines two ideas the government has been increasingly pushing together: building a developed India by 2047 and tackling substance abuse among youth.The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), launched the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Program (VBYCP) from July 16 to August 15 under the theme ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat’.The month-long campaign will take place across higher education institutions and will focus on student engagement through debates, awareness sessions and digital engagement on the MY Bharat platform.
A campaign focused on campuses
The program mainly targets youth between the ages of 15 and 25, including students from rural, urban and tribal areas.Rather than relying solely on conferences, the campaign plans to bring youth leaders into classrooms and campuses to speak directly to students about substance abuse and civic engagement.The government says the idea is to encourage youth to see a drug-free society as part of the broader goal of achieving Viksit Bharat@2047, the national vision of making India a developed country by its centenary of independence.
Youth icons to lead awareness sessions
A key part of the campaign will be interactions with young achievers drawn from various government initiatives.These include Viksit Bharat Youth Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) State Champions, Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Winners, National Service Program (NSS) Awardees, National Youth Awardees and other youth leaders.They will visit educational institutions to talk about India’s development journey while discussing how substance abuse can affect education, employment and long-term aspirations.
Films of awareness and commitment against drugs
Students attending the program will also see a film about the impact of substance abuse, which shows the experiences of individuals and families affected.The sessions will conclude with participants taking the Nasha Mukt Bharat Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to stay away from drugs and contribute to the country’s development.Whenever possible, the program will also include interactions with recovery warriors in partnership with NGOs and spiritual organizations, allowing participants to hear first-hand accounts of addiction recovery.
MY Bharat registration to be part of the unit
The campaign is also expected to serve as an outreach exercise for MY Bharat itself.Facilitation desks will be set up at participating institutions so that students can register on the MY Bharat portal and learn about the youth development programs run by the organization.The ministry said banners, stands and digital advertising material will also be used to increase participation during the month-long campaign.
What happens after the campaign?
The program is not designed as a one-time event.Participating educational institutions can establish MY Bharat Chapters after the campaign, allowing future youth engagement activities to continue on campuses.All registrations and activities related to the program will be done through the MY Bharat portal.The initiative adds another layer to campus government outreach efforts.