Starting July 16, colleges and universities across the country began hosting a new youth outreach program that combines two ideas increasingly promoted by the government: building a developed India by 2047 and tackling substance abuse among young people.The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Program (VBYCP) through Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) from July 16 to August 15 under the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”.The month-long campaign will be conducted across higher education institutions and will focus on engaging students through discussions, awareness sessions and digital engagement on the MY Bharat platform.
Campus-focused activities
The program mainly targets young people between the ages of 15 and 25, including students from rural, urban and tribal areas.Rather than relying solely on lectures, the event 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 young people to see a drug-free society as part of the broader goal of Viksit Bharat@2047, the national vision to make India a developed country by the time it marks the centenary of its independence.
Youth Idol Leadership Awareness Meeting
A key part of the event was interaction with Young Achievers from different government initiatives.These include state champions of Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue (VBYLD), Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament winners, National Service Scheme (NSS) winners, National Youth Award winners and other youth leaders.They will visit educational institutions to speak about India’s development while discussing how substance abuse affects education, employment and long-term aspirations.
Promotional videos and anti-drug commitments
Students participating in the program will also watch a film about the effects of substance abuse, which features the experiences of affected individuals and families.At the end of the conference, participants will take the Nasha Mukt Bharat Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to stay drug-free and contribute to the development of the country.Whenever possible, the program will also partner with NGOs and spiritual organizations to engage with recovery warriors, allowing participants to hear first-hand accounts of recovering from addiction.
MY Bharat registration will be part of the drive
The event is also expected to serve as an outreach event for My Bharat itself.Facilitated help 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.Banners, booths and digital promotional materials will also be used to increase participation during the month-long event, the ministry said.
What happens after the event?
This program is not a one-time event.Participating educational institutions can establish MyBharat Chapters after the event, allowing future youth engagement activities to continue on campus.All registration and program related activities will be done through the MY Bharat portal.This initiative adds another layer to the administration’s campus outreach efforts.
