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By some estimates, 74% of Indian homes have at least one member who is an addict. 10 people commit suicide in India each day due to drug abuse. These aren’t just numbers but scores of family lives, careers and relationships ruined. The steadily worsening problem of drug abuse among Indian youth has long called for collective action. As a response to this need, a nationwide campaign Drug Free India, an initiative of The Art of Living, will be launched on 18th February at Chandigarh University and at Guru Jambeshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana with the support of Government of Haryana on 19th February in the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who will be joined by popular Bollywood actor, Sanjay Dutt.
Other Bollywood celebrities including Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra, Kapil Sharma, and Badshah (find the quotes below) have also lent their support to Drug Free India, an integrated campaign with a 360 degree focus on combating the drug menace.
An estimated 60 thousand students will attend the event on both the days. Thousands of colleges across the country will join via live broadcast and millions will take the pledge against drug abuse simultaneously.
“When stress increases, man seeks to get rid of this stress and in this process gets into substance abuse,” says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, The Art of Living, “When you train them in handling this stress effectively through spiritual tools like meditation, pranayam and Yoga then their perspective towards life changes totally. Otherwise, so many youths are destroying their lives by getting into addiction. To put an end to this menace, we are organizing this nation-wide movement called the Drug Free India.”
The Art of Living has mobilized thousands of its volunteers for this initiative, who are working round-the-clock to create SWAT (Social Wellness and Awareness Training) clubs across college campuses in the country. These clubs will comprise of students, teachers, doctors and social workers who will spread the word against drug abuse throughout the year.
Actor Sanjay Dutt, who is known to have fought the addiction himself said, “I have experienced the menace of drugs first hand. I know the havoc it creates and so this cause is close to my heart. Me along with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar are ready to take up the biggest fight against drugs.”
Calling Drug Free India campaign the largest and the most important movement towards winning the fight against drug abuse in India, Dutt said, “The Art of Living is leading the Drug Free India Movement and many celebrities from our industry are joining the movement too, supporting it wholeheartedly. I want to help create as much awareness as possible. I appeal each citizen of our country to come forward and join the biggest fight against drugs.”
Over the last few decades, the Art of Living has used a multipronged approach in addressing the ubiquitous problem by raising awareness through sensitization workshops in schools and colleges in India, organizing awareness drives and running integrated rural development and de-addiction programs.
The Drug Free India movement has also found support in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. “Life is beautiful but ‘Nasha’ (addiction) doesn’t let us enjoy the beauty of life,” Prakash Javdekar, Union Minister of Ministry of Human Resource Development said in a video message, “There is a rise in cases of addiction. Good people have to come forward to fight this evil. I congratulate Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his associates for initiating the fight against the menace.”
Besides Varun, Sonakshi and Sanjay Dutt other actors like Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Uri star Vicky Kaushal, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Bhushan Kumar, and a host of others.
I sincerely support this most needed initiative taken by @SriSri for a #DrugFreeIndia.
A great movement by the @ArtofLiving @MahaveerJainMum. #SayNoToDrugs #TheArtOfLiving #FightAgainstDrugs pic.twitter.com/GP9fRBLhT5
— SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA (@TheShilpaShetty) February 12, 2019
I sincerely support this most needed initiative taken by @SriSri for a #drugfreeindia.
A great movement by @artofliving @MahaveerJainMum pic.twitter.com/uCQqaReYkF
— Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) February 12, 2019
I sincerely support this most needed initiative taken by @srisri for a #drugfreeindia. A great movement by @artofliving @Mahaveerjainmum pic.twitter.com/1kMtJxcgtc
— Tiger Shroff (@iTIGERSHROFF) February 12, 2019
I sincerely support this most needed initiative taken by @SriSri for a #DrugFreeIndia. A great movement by @ArtofLiving @MahaveerJainMum pic.twitter.com/FPSSoEjH5J
— Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) February 12, 2019
I sincerely support this initiative taken by @srisri for a #drugfreeindia.
A great movement by @artofliving @Mahaveerjainmum pic.twitter.com/P2ugNQwEQs
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) February 11, 2019
I sincerely support the initiative taken by @SriSri for a #DrugFreeIndia.
A great movement by @ArtofLiving ???? pic.twitter.com/WpP5u0tQgo
— bhumi pednekar (@bhumipednekar) February 11, 2019
Action changes things…Happy to support @SriSri in the movement towards a #drugfreeindia. A great movement by @ArtofLiving pic.twitter.com/MePJ13uS10
— Bhushan Kumar (@itsBhushanKumar) February 11, 2019
I wholeheartedly support the initiative taken by @SriSri for a #drugfreeindia. A great movement by @ArtofLiving . pic.twitter.com/0ZqoozFZUV
— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) February 11, 2019
I wholeheartedly support the initiative taken by @SriSri for a #drugfreeindia. A great movement by @ArtofLiving. pic.twitter.com/PTMcJKy9JP
— Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) February 10, 2019
I totally support #DrugFreeIndia ! As must you….great initiative by @ArtofLiving pic.twitter.com/zhsYwiOR0j
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) February 10, 2019
I have joined the fight for a #drugfreeindia along with @SriSri and @ArtofLiving Join us in saying NO to drugs and help save lives! pic.twitter.com/NtLs5kLzzG
— Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) February 10, 2019
I have joined the fight for a #drugfreeindia along with @srisri and @artofliving.
Join hands. Save lives. pic.twitter.com/YjjgUCnzFK
— BADSHAH (@Its_Badshah) February 10, 2019
I support the initiative taken by @srisri for a #drugfreeindia. A great movement by @artofliving. pic.twitter.com/aXyg2qVtkW
— Divya Khosla Kumar (@iamDivyaKhosla) February 10, 2019
I have joined the fight for a #drugfreeindia along with @srisri and @artofliving pls join hands. Save lives. ???? pic.twitter.com/dI4vN1GglF
— KAPIL (@KapilSharmaK9) February 10, 2019
I sincerely support the initiative taken by @srisri for a #drugfreeindia !! Its an important movement by the @artofliving ❤️ pic.twitter.com/V1PfG26pAA
— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) February 10, 2019
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