Date: 2025-08-08Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Special event on 08th August 2025 at Dr. Ambedkar lnternational Centre, 15 Janpath, New Delhi on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan as part of Celebration of 5 years of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA)
On August 8, 2025, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) held a special event at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, commemorating Raksha Bandhan and celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA). The event, organized by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, featured Brahma Kumaris tying rakhis to approximately 400 CRPF jawans and officers, symbolizing protection and commitment. A mass pledge against drug abuse, administered by Hon'ble Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, was taken by all participants, reinforcing the collective responsibility to combat drug addiction.
The NMBA, a flagship initiative of the MoSJE (the nodal ministry for drug demand reduction), aims to raise awareness about the adverse effects of substance abuse, particularly among youth, focusing on educational institutions and community engagement. Hon'ble Minister of State Shri Ramdas Athawale highlighted the achievements of NMBA in reducing drug demand, while Hon'ble Minister of State Shri B.L. Verma emphasized the societal impact of substance abuse. Sister BK Lakshmi from Brahmakumaris underscored the spiritual significance of Raksha Bandhan and encouraged participants to renounce inner evils. The event recognized the collaborative efforts of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, and Social Justice and Empowerment in addressing drug demand and supply.
Key achievements of the NMBA include sensitizing 18.07 crore people on substance use (including 6.01 Crore Youth and 4.08 Crore Women), engaging 4.84 Lakh educational institutions, and training 20,000 Master Volunteers. The Abhiyaan utilizes social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) for awareness campaigns and employs a mobile application for data collection and monitoring. The NMBA website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides comprehensive information, an online discussion forum, a dashboard, and an e-pledge platform. A National Online Pledge to be Drug Free had 1.67 Crore students from 99,595 educational institutions. The initiative regularly organizes events like 'Nashe se Azaadi A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme', Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat, NMBA Interaction with NCC, and has signed MoUs with organizations like The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, Ram Chandra Mission Daaji, ISKCON, and All World Gayatri Parivaar. The NMBA mobile application, available on the Google Play Store, facilitates real-time data capture, and de-addiction facilities have been geotagged for public access.
Key Entities Referenced
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan NMBA: A national campaign initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to create awareness about the ill effects of substance abuse and reduce drug demand in India.
Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment: The nodal ministry responsible for drug demand reduction in India, coordinating and monitoring drug abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts.
Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi: The venue where the special event was organized on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
Raksha Bandhan: A Hindu festival during which sisters tie rakhis to brothers. In this context, sisters from Brahma Kumaris tied rakhis to CRPF jawans and officers.
CRPF: Central Reserve Police Force. Jawans and officers from the CRPF participated in the event organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Shri Ramdas Athawale: Hon'ble Minister of State, SJE. Highlighted the achievements of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan NMBA.
Brahma Kumaris: A spiritual organization whose sisters tied rakhis to CRPF jawans and officers during the event, and with whom the Ministry has signed an MoU to support NMBA.
Ministry of Home Affairs: One of the three Ministries mentioned as working together to curb drug demand and supply.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Special event on 08th August 2025 at Dr. Ambedkar
lnternational Centre, 15 Janpath, New Delhi on the
occasion of Raksha Bandhan as part of Celebration
of 5 years of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA)
Posted On: 08 AUG 2025 8:32PM by PIB Delhi
In alignment with the spirit of Raksha Bandhan, and part of celebration of 5 years of Nasha Mukt
Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), an event was organized by Department of Social Justice &
Empowerment on 8th August 2025 from 09:00 AM at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, 15
Janpath, New Delhi, wherein sisters from the Brahma Kumaris tied rakhis to nearly 400 CRPF
jawans and officers. This event also featured a pledge ceremony by all participants committing to
remain free from drug use.
Hon'ble Union Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar administered a “Mass
Pledge” against drug abuse to all the participants. Hon'ble Minister emphasized that this challenge of
eradicating drug addiction requires everyone in the society to come together and fight for this social cause.The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry for drug demand reduction in the
country, which coordinates and monitors all aspects of drug abuse prevention, assessment of the extent of
the problem, preventive action, treatment and rehabilitation of users, dissemination of information.
This Ministry has initiated ambitious Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) and currently operational in
all districts of the country with an aim to create awareness about ill effects of substance abuse among the
youth, with special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools and reaching out into
the community and garnering community involvement and ownership of the Abhiyaan.
Hon'ble Minister of State, SJ&E, Shri Ramdas Athawale highlighted the achievements of Nasha Mukt
Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) and explained how NMBA has helped in reducing the demand of drugs.
Hon'ble Minister of State, SJ&E, Shri B.L. Verma in his speech mentioned that the repercussions of
substance use are not confined to the individual and his family, they ripple outward, affecting communities
and contributing to broad societal changes and social stigma.Sister BK Lakshmi from Brahmakumaris emphasized the spiritual importance of Raksha Bandhan and
requested everyone to renounce the inner evils from their lives. IGP, CRPF appreciated the joint efforts of
the three Ministries i.e. Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment in curbing the demand and supply of drugs. He further assured that the
officers of CRPF are always committed towards the goal of achieving Nasha Mukt Bharat.
By publicizing and celebrating such events, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment aims to
motivate young people and citizens at large to stay away from drugs and embrace healthier, value-driven
lifestyles.
Achievements of NMBA:
Till now, through the various activities undertaken on-ground, 18.07+ crore people have been
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sensitized on substance use including 6.01+ Crore Youth and 4.08+ Crore Women.
Participation of 4.84+ Lakh educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan
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reaches children and youth of the country.
A strong force of 20,000+ Master Volunteers (MVs) have been identified and trained.
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Awareness through official Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on Twitter, Facebook &
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Instagram.
NMBA Mobile Application developed to gather and collect the data of NMBA activities and
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represent on the NMBA Dashboard at district, state and national level.
NMBA Website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides detailed information and insights to the
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user/viewer about the Abhiyaan, an online discussion forum, NMBA dashboard, e-pledge.
A National Online Pledge to be Drug Free had 1.67+ Crore students from 99,595 educational
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institutions pledging to be drug free.
Events like 'Nashe se Azaadi- A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme', ‘Naya
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Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat’, ‘NMBA Interaction with NCC’ are regularly organized to engage and
connect with youth and other stakeholders.
MoUs have been signed with Spiritual/Social Service organizations like The Art of Living, Brahma
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Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, Ram Chandra Mission (Daaji), ISKCON and All World Gayatri
Parivaar to support to NMBA and conduct mass awareness activities.
Technology and Social media have been effectively utilized to spread the message of the Abhiyaan
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online by creating handles on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and sharing daily updates on them.An Android based mobile Application has been developed to capture the data of activities
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happening on ground on a real-time basis by the districts and master volunteers. This App has been
placed on the Google Play Store.
All the de-addiction facilities have been geo-tagged for ease of access by the public.
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KV
(Release ID: 2154448)