Mann Ki Baat: PM Narendra Modi cautions youth against drug addiction

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today shared his ‘Mann Ki Baat' with his fellow countrymen on All India Radio.

He spoke about the widespread use of drug among the youth which he termed as an abuse that brings ‘darkness, destruction and devastation'.

He also underlined the need to fight against the habit.

He also announced that a toll-free helpline would be set up for those seeking solutions to drug menace.

Below are the highlights of his today's speech.

11:00 am: For long I have been concerned about our younger generation.

11:00 am: Drugs are something that can shatter anyone

11:01 am: Drug abuse is a dangerous menace and can hit the best

11:01 am: Apart from destroying, it also affects the family

11:01 am: When a youngster gets addicted to drugs we consider him/her bad. But the truth is the drugs are bad not the youth

11:02 am: This is a psycho-socio-medical problem & we need to see it this way, we shouldn't blame the person

11:02 am: Drugs brings 3 things. I call them 3D- Darkness, Destruction and Devastation

11:03 am: Want to ask - perhaps for those few hours you feel it is a different life, free of troubles but where does the money you spend go

11:04 am: Have you thought- the bullet that has hit the soldier has the money of your drugs. We cannot help terrorists and drug mafia

11:05 am: Sometimes with friends, people feel drugs are cool & it is a style statement. But this leads to serious problems

11:07 am: I want to thank the media. Some TV channels did programmes on drugs. They expressed a concern on this issue

11:09 am: I want to ask, ever thought where does the money one spends on drugs go?

11:10 am: The money from drugs goes to mafia and terrorists, the same people's bullets hit our jawans who protect our nation

11:12 am: People need to have the courage to say no (to drugs) and reject drugs. Tell your friends the same too

11:12 am: Bad habits don't start all of sudden. It happens over time. Parents should study those changes happening & can save children

11:13 am: For good education children leave their homes & go to hostels for boarding life. There too this problem can happen

11:14 am: Toll-free helpline to be set up for those seeking solutions to drug menace

11:15 am: The letters I have got are inspiring and saddening

11:15 am: I urge celebrities be it sportsman, film personalities, from all walks of life people must spread awareness on the issue

11:16 am: On social media lets start a movement with #DrugFreeIndia. This can become a means of 'Lok Shiksha'

11:18 am: Met the Indian Team that won the Blind Cricket World Cup. Saw their enthusiasm. It was great, I got energy after meeting them

11:19 am: The UN declared 21st June as International Day of Yoga. This is a matter of great pride for India

11:19 am: The world came together on the issue. 177 nations were co-sponsors

11:22 am: Met CMs this time & there was a retreat. No pens, papers, no officials. Only CMs and PMs sat as friends & talked about issues

11:23 am: Recently, I had gone to the northeast. The place is really magnificent. Everyone should vist the region.

11:24 am: It was a matter of pride for me the people way people welcomed me and showed their love and affection

11:26 am: Your letters become an inspiration for me. I urge you to all write letters in more numbers, they can guide me and my government

The latest radio programme is a new initiative by the Prime Minister to reach out to the maximum populace giving a pep talk on shedding despondency and use of skills for the country's betterment and prosperity.

The first 'Mann Ki Baat' was aired on the occasion of Vijayadashami on 03 October, 2014.