Governor calls for mission-mode campaign against drug abuse

SHIMLA 1st July, 2026

Launches ‘Elevate’ campaign to build drug-free Himachal

Governor Kavinder Gupta said the children must be educated about the harmful effects of substance abuse from an early age and called upon society to wage a collective mission against drugs to safeguard the future of the younger generation.

He was addressing the inaugural session of “Elevate– Experience the Real High, A Step Towards Drug-Free Himachal”, organized today by the Anuvrat Vishwa Bharati Society at Lok Bhavan. The event marked the launch of the Society’s statewide anti-drug awareness campaign in Himachal Pradesh, which will subsequently be carried to different districts.

Representatives, educationists, social workers and youth from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan and other parts of the country participated in the programme.

The Governor described the initiative as a significant step towards realizing the vision of a Drug-Free India. He said the campaign represents a national resolve to build an India free from the shackles of addiction, where young people achieve success through their talent, determination and hard work rather than falling prey to substance abuse.

Explaining the significance of the campaign’s title, Shri Gupta said that the word “Elevate” symbolizes rising higher, but true elevation lies in living a healthy, purposeful and service-oriented life. He expressed happiness that the initiative was being developed into a nationwide people’s movement to inspire youth to choose a meaningful and disciplined way of life.

The Governor said that if the ideas and objectives of the campaign are implemented effectively at the grassroots level, Himachal Pradesh could make remarkable progress towards becoming a drug-free State. He emphasized that the youth were the nation’s greatest asset, and protecting them from the menace of drugs is a shared responsibility of every section of society.

He said teachers particularly had an important role to play in shaping young minds. If educators regularly counsel students and guide them properly, they could be prevented from drifting towards addiction.