Shillong, October 24: Students at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) took part in a programme of traditional and modern sporting activities on Saturday. The Sports Authority of India (SAI), Regional Centre, Guwahati, organised the event to spread the message of a drug-free society.
The programme was held under the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”. It aimed to steer young people away from substance abuse and encourage them to help build a developed India.
Participants joined yoga sessions and instructor-led Zumba dance. They also played Mawpoin, a traditional Khasi sport, and took part in other events that promoted fitness, teamwork and healthy living.
The event was attended by Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Alertson Nongbri and Assistant Director of SAI Training Centre, Shillong, Rajnish Kumar Mishra. Youth Officer of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) Bobby Wahlang and Head of the Department of Commerce at NEHU, Prof. Rajkumar Giridhan Singh, were also present, along with other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Nongbri called drugs a “silent destroyer of families.” He warned that drug abuse harms individuals, families and society.
He urged all sections of society to work together to protect young people from substance abuse and help them lead healthy, productive lives. He also stressed the need to educate the younger generation about the dangers of drugs and called for more young people to take part in sports and other constructive activities.
The programme gave equal weight to indigenous sporting traditions and modern fitness activities, offering students positive ways to spend their leisure time.
Organisers said the initiative was part of a wider campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. The campaign also seeks to promote physical and mental well-being and to inspire youth to play an active role in building a drug-free and developed India.
