Mokokchung, June 24: Hundreds of students from schools and colleges across Mokokchung took to the streets on Wednesday to spread awareness against substance abuse as the district administration organised a walkathon under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) on the theme, “Viksit Bharat ke Pehchaan.”

Carrying banners and placards with anti-drug messages, the participants marched through the town, calling for a drug-free society and greater awareness about the dangers of substance abuse.

The walkathon forms part of the District Action Plan for NMBA Campaign 2026, launched by the Mokokchung district administration earlier this month as part of a broader push to tackle the menace of drug abuse.

Officials said the district’s strategy rests on four pillars—curbing illicit drug trafficking, reducing demand through intervention and counselling, expanding awareness campaigns among vulnerable groups, and strengthening monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability.

As part of the campaign, district officers and civil society organisations have been assigned time-bound responsibilities to coordinate anti-drug awareness activities across the district.

The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2020, aims to create mass awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse, with a special focus on youth and educational institutions.

Organisers said community engagement initiatives such as the walkathon are vital in educating young people about the dangers of drugs and in building a healthier, drug-free Mokokchung.

The event also reflects the district administration’s growing emphasis on involving students and community organisations in the fight against substance abuse, amid increasing concerns over drug use among young people in the Northeast.