Need to save the youth from drug addiction: Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey

The minister exhorted the need to “channel the potent energies of the youth towards improving their character and moral value and conduct in the social sphere for the great good of the nation and world.” Recalling his participation in the JP Movement in the 1970s, Choubey said if the energies and strengths of the youth are funnelled and fostered in a constructive manner, it would help bring about revolutionary changes in society.

“The future is with the youth of the country. Post-Independence youth of the nation fought against corruption. Today, they want to study and achieve something in life. In their pursuit of this sometimes they get frustrated and get addicted to drugs and develop addictive habits. We need to save the youth from this,” he said.

Sunday Akin Dare, former Nigerian minister of Youth and Sports Development, said: “It is an opportunity to speak about the relationship between mental health and sports. This is an area often overlooked, yet sports is medicine too. The best audience to speak to is the youth. The youth of Nigeria and India are a resource to be tapped into for development and not a problem.”

Meeta Rajivlochan, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Youth Affairs, said it was imperative to counsel youth and guide them in the right direction and utilise their latent power and talent skills.

“Hoping that the G20 and Y20 forums would come up with appropriate proposals and concrete recommendations to leverage the youth potential and create a robust ecosystem for the youth and empower them to become responsible citizens of the country. According to a survey, 17 per cent of the youth faced anxiety and stress syndrome while 13 per cent suffered from sadness and mood swings. It is important to alleviate some of these social problems through proper counselling and support systems,” Rajivlochan said.

Dr Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS, said: “The Y20 platform, an integral part of the G20 presidency, stands as a powerful conduit for the voices of young leaders and stakeholders, offering a unique opportunity to engage in policy discussions and drive significant transformations. We at NIMHANS believe that it is not just in the treatment of mental disorders that well-being lies but in mental health promotion. NIMHANS is well known in the country for the clinical service it provides.”