The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India organized a National Youth and Students Interaction programme in the ‘Nashe se Azadi’ event in which the students and research scholars of KISS-DU participated in the program online at the Conference Hall of Administrative Building of Higher Education Campus of KISS. KISS-DU among other universities and institutes had received the intimation to share the initiatives taken towards the prevention of addiction and drug abuse as well as to sensitize the youths about the ill consequences of addiction in the event. Prof. (Dr.) Deepak Kumar Behera, Honourable Vice-Chancellor, KISS-DU gave a deliberation on behalf of KISS-DU and highlighted the preventive measures and awareness campaigns taken up by KISS-DU to refrain themselves from any kind of addiction.

The event started at 10.00 AM and was witnessed live in virtual mode in which Hon’ble Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, Dr. Virendera Kumar chaired the event and all other dignitaries from the Govt. as well as the authorities of various Universities and Institutions where Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chair has been instituted, attended the said program. From KISS-DU, the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Director General, Chairperson, Council of Deans, Deans, Chair Professors including Chair Professor(I/C), B.R. Ambedkar Chair, Faculty members, students and research scholars of the School of Tribal Legal Studies and Tribal Rights, KISS-DU attended the program.

Ms. Radhika Chakravarthy, Joint Secretary, SD, welcomed all the participants and invited the Private Secretary to give the inaugural address. In his inaugural address, Dr. Santanu Kumar Agrahari, the Private Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, congratulated the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for launching the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” and the initiatives taken by the Government to prevent and reduce the incidences of addiction among the youths of India. He also listed out several activities such as awareness rallies, road shows, campaigns and skit plays being undertaken to sensitize the youths to stay away from any kind of addiction or drug abuse.

After the talk of the principal secretary, a presentation was made by the Secretary of Department of SSEPD, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh which was appreciated for their intervention towards spreading awareness to reduce addiction among the people. Mr. Pratik Hajela, the secretary of SSEPD, Madhya Pradesh elaborated on the initiatives such as ‘Nasha Mukt Panchayat’ and QR Code for identification of addicts being taken towards prevention of addiction in the state.
After this, the Chief Guest of the event, Dr. Virendera Kumar delivered his keynote address on ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ and the preventive measures taken as a part of this programme to stop any kind of addiction. In his deliberation, the Honorable Minister pointed out the pledge taken by Mr. Narendra Modi Ji, Honourable Prime Minister of India towards the eradication of drug and substance abuse as well as emphasized reducing the demands of narcotics among the people. Additionally, he also stressed disseminating the message of ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ in the entire country. While pointing out the negative consequences of addiction and drug abuse, Dr. Kumar mentioned that the addiction not only causes health problems such as neurological and all other acute diseases but also gives rise to several other problems such as accidents, violence and crimes within society. So it should be prevented to protect the human resource of society.
During the interaction session with the representatives of various universities/educational institutes in the presence of the Honorable Minister of Social Justice and Empowerement, Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, the Vice-Chancellor of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, gave a deliberation of two minutes emphasizing on the initiatives taken by KISS-DU to prevent addiction among the students. He mentioned that KISS-DU is a unique educational institution which provides free education to the deprived tribal students along with free lodge and board facility ensuring the development of core ethics, principles and discipline among the students. The Sports Department, NSS, Red Cross, Rover and Ranger units of the university are ensuring 24X7 productive engagement of the students in various awareness and sensitization programs, resulting in keeping them busy in extra-curricular activities so that they keep themselves away from any addiction. The ‘Professors of Practice’, belonging to indigenous communities stay in regular touch with the students for making them aware of the cultural values and traditions helping them not to choose the path of addiction. In addition to this, the KISS-DU has conducted several awareness rallies, essay, debate and painting competitions to sensitize the youth about the negative consequences of addiction and drug abuse. Professor Behera also shared a video clip of an awareness rally that was undertaken by KISS-DU recently to aware the youths about ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’.

The deliberation of Prof. Behera was highly praised and the efforts taken up by KISS-DU was appreciated by the Ministry, hosting this event. Among other representatives from educational institutes, the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, Central University Punjab, Harisingh Gaur University, Delhi University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Central University of Himachal Pradesh and Tata Institute of Social Sciences also gave deliberations on the initiatives taken up by them to prevent addiction among the students.
By concluding the session of ‘Nashe se Azadi’ event, the honorable minister congratulated all participants and appreciated their efforts towards preventing addiction. He also encouraged the youths to follow the message of Honorable Prime Minster to make India healthy and free from any kind of addiction or drug abuse.
After the event, KISS-DU welcomed the student delegation of Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh that visited KISS-DU as a part of the MoU signed between KISS-DU and Daffodil International University. More importantly, the students and representatives from the Daffodil International University also participated in the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

Dr. Krupasindhu Nayak, Professor (I/C), Dr. Ambedkar Chair proposed the vote of thanks to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India and Dr. Ambedkar Foundation for organizing this program. He also expressed his thanks to the dignitaries and participants for their presence and making this event a grand success.