Varanasi to host Youth Spiritual Summit against drug abuse
"Over 500 young representatives from 100 spiritual and socio-cultural organisations across the country will take part in the summit organised by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
It aims to promote the collective national resolve inherent in India's spiritual heritage," a PIB release said.
Dignitaries, including the Himachal Pradesh governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Union ministers Mansukh Mandaviya, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Virendra Kumar, Nityanand Rai, Raksha Nikhil Khadse and UP ministers Girish Yadav, Asim Arun and Nitin Agarwal, will also attend the event.
The summit is part of the ministry's broader mission to initiate a value-based, youth-led mass movement against drug abuse.
Designed as an intensive experience, the summit will combine introspective dialogue with cultural and spiritual engagement. Four plenary sessions will discuss key topics: understanding the psychological and social impacts of addiction, dismantling drug supply and trafficking networks, effective grassroots campaigns and communication strategies, and drafting a blueprint for building a drug-free India.
Alongside these discussions, platforms for youth ideas and innovations will be provided through whiteboard forums, expert keynote speeches and workshops.
The summit will conclude with the release of the 'Kashi Declaration' that will reflect the collective vision and commitment of youth and spiritual leaders and present a comprehensive action plan for building a drug-free India. It will serve as a guiding charter for policymakers, civil society organisations, and youth networks working in the field of de-addiction and rehabilitation.
In collaboration with the My Bharat platform, this summit will also launch a national mass movement against drugs, with My Bharat volunteers and affiliated youth clubs leading awareness campaigns, pledge drives and grassroots outreach activities in villages, towns, and cities across the country.
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