KASHI DECLARATION: Youth Spiritual Summit Charts Bold Path for Addiction-Free India by 2047
Kashi has spoken—and the message is clear. In a noteworthy culmination to the three-day Youth Spiritual Summit held at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi, the Kashi Declaration was formally adopted on July 20, 2025.
This ambitious resolution marks a national turning point in India's collective effort to combat substance abuse and realize the vision of a “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
 |
| Image Source: QuietFrame on X |
The gathering was designed not merely as a dialogue, but as a nationwide commitment—anchored in India’s civilizational ethos and led by its most powerful resource: its youth.
The Kashi Declaration calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to drug prevention, rehabilitation, and awareness.
It urges the formation of a Joint National Committee to oversee implementation, annual progress reports, and a digital platform to connect affected individuals to recovery services.
Importantly, it embeds spiritual and cultural institutions at the heart of Bharat’s anti-drug movement, framing addiction not just as a crime or health issue, but as a societal crisis requiring moral and communal healing.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, described the declaration as a "shared sankalp born of collective chintan," reinforcing the moral seriousness and policy depth behind the document.
The sessions—ranging from the psycho-social aspects of addiction to trafficking supply chains and digital exploitation—offered concrete strategies that now find expression in the Kashi Declaration's multi-tiered action plan.
Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, underscored the cultural significance of the setting. Referring to Kashi as the "cradle of Sanatan Chetna," he called the summit a seed for national transformation, reminding delegates that with 65% of India’s population being youth, the fight against addiction is a fight for the nation's future.
The Summit also saw participation from several Union and State Ministers, including Nitin Agarwal (UP Excise), Dr. Virendra Kumar (Social Justice), Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Culture and Tourism), Raksha Khadse (Youth Affairs), Nityanand Rai (Home Affairs), and others.
From digital dangers targeting children to community engagement for awareness, each minister contributed practical insights into the multidimensional nature of the issue.
As part of the MY Bharat framework, youth clubs and volunteers will now mobilize on ground, launching pledge campaigns and community awareness drives.
The Kashi Declaration will be the moral and operational charter, guiding activities until the next national review: the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026.
Beyond policy, the declaration sends a powerful cultural signal that in the land of moksha (liberation) and consciousness, India is preparing to rise above the intoxication of escapism with the strength of its youth and spiritual heritage.