Governor Shukla addresses youth spiritual summit in Kashi
The Youth Spiritual Summit on the theme Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat culminated today at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Summit brought together more than 600 youth leaders, representatives from over 120 spiritual and socio-cultural organizations, academicians and domain experts. The event marked a defining moment in Bharat’s journey toward a drug-free society by 2047.
Echoing this spiritual ethos, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, reflected on the cultural sanctity of the venue: “This sacred land of Kashi is the cradle of Sanatan Chetna (eternal consciousness), where discipline and values guide life’s journey towards moksha. We are not just gathering; we are sowing seeds that will one day grow into a strong tree of national transformation.”
He further cautioned: “If a nation where 65 percent of the population is youth falls prey to addiction, only those who break free from it will be able to build the future.”
Shri Shukla also shared details of the “Nasha Mukt Himachal Abhiyan”, a state-level de-addiction awareness campaign spearheaded by the Raj Bhavan. He said that Panchayati Raj institutions, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, educational institutions and civil society organizations have been mobilized to fight the rising threat of drug use among the youth in Himachal Pradesh.
Speaking at the Summit, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasized, “We have reflected deeply over the last three days across diverse thematic sessions. Based on this collective chintan, the Kashi Declaration is born, not just as a document, but as a shared Sankalp for the Yuva Shakti of Bharat.”
The culminating session of the Summit was marked by the presence of several distinguished dignitaries. The keynote address was delivered by Nitin Agarwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Excise and Prohibition, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
The Kashi Declaration, formally adopted today, affirms a national consensus to treat substance abuse as a multi-faceted public health and societal challenge and calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. It emphasizes the integration of spiritual, cultural, educational and technological efforts to prevent addiction, support recovery and foster a national culture of sobriety. It proposes institutional mechanisms for multi-ministerial coordination, including the formation of a Joint National Committee, annual progress reporting and a national platform for linking affected individuals to support services.
Several dignitaries, including Dr. Virendra Kumar (Social Justice and Empowerment), Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Culture and Tourism), Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Anil Rajbhar, Minister of State, Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse (Youth Affairs and Sports) and Girish Chandra Yadav (Sports Minister, Uttar Pradesh), participated in sessions for day one, contributing valuable insights. Raksha Khadse highlighted the misuse of digital platforms targeting school children and reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
