Chandigarh : Haryana Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh called upon the youth to take a pledge against drug abuse and work collectively towards eliminating this menace from society. He said that if every young person inspires ten others to join this mission, the collective resolve can grow into a powerful nationwide movement.
The Governor was addressing the National Conference on “War Against Drugs” organised at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, Punjab, on Saturday. Punjab Governor Sh Gulab Chand Kataria, First Lady of Haryana Smt Mitra Ghosh also present on this occasion.
Describing the conference as a clarion call to choose between hope and despair, Prof. Ghosh said one path leads to health, education, sports and success, while the other leads to addiction, broken families and shattered dreams. Expressing confidence in the youth, he said they would choose the path of life, purpose and progress and become ambassadors of a drug-free society. He added that the conference marks the beginning of a powerful public awareness movement whose message will spread far beyond Punjab.
The Governor said that the greatest strength of any nation is its youth. When young people dream big, work hard and move forward with confidence, no force can stop the nation’s progress. However, drug abuse strikes at these very aspirations by weakening individuals, destroying families and eroding the social fabric. Therefore, he said, the fight against drugs is not the responsibility of law enforcement agencies alone but a shared responsibility of families, educational institutions, communities and every citizen.
Urging young people to remain resilient in the face of challenges such as academic pressure, unemployment and loneliness, Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh said that drugs can never be the solution. “The real solutions lie in determination, dialogue, guidance and self-belief,” he said.
The Governor also appealed to parents and guardians to spend quality time with their children and nurture relationships built on trust and open communication. Timely guidance and emotional support, he said, can prevent many young lives from falling into addiction. He stressed that those affected by substance abuse deserve compassion, treatment and rehabilitation rather than rejection and stigma.
Highlighting the initiatives of the Central Government, Prof. Ghosh said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, programmes such as Fit India, Khelo India, Skill India, Digital India, Startup India and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 are creating unprecedented opportunities for the country’s youth. With such opportunities available, he said, there is no place for the scourge of drug abuse.
The Governor said Haryana has earned global recognition through its sporting achievements; likewise, the youth of Punjab have also brought immense glory to the nation in sports. He expressed confidence that with the same courage, discipline and determination, the youth of region would play a leading role in defeating the menace of drugs and strengthening the nation’s future.
Vice Chancellor Rajiv Gandhi National University of law, Patiala Prof Jai S. Singh and VCs of various other Universities and others were also present in the conference.
