NEW DELHI, OCT 2 (PTI): Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Friday said the menace of drugs is not a challenge only for India but for the entire world, and urged the youth to take an oath to stay away from substance abuse.
Addressing the 11th annual Sant Eshwer Samman ceremony here, Radhakrishnan referred to the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August and the Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 roadmap launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that such initiatives are essential to build a disciplined society.
“This is a great movement and a great sankalp; it is a must for a well-developed, highly disciplined society,” he said.
“A drug-free society is a must for future development. This September, at the SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan, the global leaders adopted programmes on combating drug addiction and countering the spread of synthetic drugs up to the year 2030. That is a great movement. We will create a drug-free society not only in India, but also over the globe,” the vice-president added. “Till today, over 3 lakh students in all these universities I have visited have taken oaths to say no to drugs. They will not only stay away from drugs themselves, but will also spread awareness among their friends, family members and the society in which they move around,” he said.
The vice-president said the Sant Eshwer Samman, instituted by a prominent NGO in 2015, recognises selfless service and celebrates the culture of compassion and responsibility.
He said seva is a timeless Indian tradition and part of the country’s culture.
“The great saints and thinkers of Bharat have inspired us to rise above the narrow boundaries of self and dedicate ourselves to the welfare of others,” he said.
Radhakrishnan said this year’s awardees have rendered service in diverse fields, including rural development, tribal regions, education, rehabilitation, skill development, cultural activities and the armed forces.
“Their fields, regions or communities may be different, but the spirit of seva and dedication in nation-building is common among all the awardees,” he said.
The vice-president said the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 cannot be measured only through economic growth, infrastructure and technological advancement but also by the dignity, opportunity and hope experienced by every citizen.
“As Bharat marches towards Viksit Bharat, let us ensure that the development is accompanied by compassion, character and social responsibility,” he said.
The vice-president also urged young people to contribute to society, saying living only for oneself is not the right attitude.
“Living for oneself is not a sin, but living only for oneself is not the right attitude. We have to live for ourselves, and for others too,” he said.
The Sant Eshwer Foundation and Rashtriya Seva Bharati organised the ceremony at the Constitution Club of India, where individuals and organisations working in social service and public welfare were honoured.
The organisation also announced the Sant Eshwer Special Samman 2026 for Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped foil an alleged attempt by an Omani co-pilot to crash an Israel-bound flydubai flight on September 30.
