‘Campus Connect’ Campaign Launched in Navi Mumbai by Chief Minister
Thane, August 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday urged students to stay away from substance abuse and focus their energies on education, sports, skill development and nation-building.
He was speaking at the launch of the ‘Campus Connect’ campaign in Navi Mumbai, an initiative undertaken by the Navi Mumbai Police under its ‘Drug-Free Navi Mumbai’ campaign to create awareness among college students about the dangers of drug abuse.
The programme was held at the D.Y. Patil University’s Centre of Excellence in Nerul in the presence of Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, Employment Guarantee and Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale, MLAs Mandatai Mhatre, Mahesh Baldi, Ravindra Phatak and Vikram Patil, Navi Mumbai Mayor Sujata Patil, Panvel Mayor Nitin Patil, Raigad Zilla Parishad President Mangesh Wakadikar, Konkan Divisional Commissioner Rubal Agrawal, Thane District Collector Dr Shri Krishna Panchal, Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Kailas Shinde, Panvel Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe and D.Y. Patil College Chairman Vijay Patil, among others.
Focus on Awareness Among Youth
Chief Minister Fadnavis said the Navi Mumbai Police had taken the initiative to reach out directly to students considering the growing attraction towards drugs and their serious social, physical and psychological consequences.
He said the college years are a crucial phase in the development of a young person’s personality. Therefore, creating awareness and providing accurate information to students at this stage is one of the key objectives of the ‘Campus Connect’ campaign.
Referring to India’s demographic dividend, Fadnavis said nearly 65 per cent of the country’s population comprises young people, making the youth one of India’s greatest strengths.
He warned that hostile nations and anti-social elements were attempting to weaken this strength by pushing young people towards addiction. He stressed the need for a comprehensive 360-degree approach to tackling the drug menace.
According to the Chief Minister, the strategy must include completely dismantling the drug supply chain while simultaneously creating awareness among young people to reduce and eventually eliminate demand for narcotic substances.
‘No to Drugs’ Message
Fadnavis said every educational campus should become a centre of the fight against drugs and every student should consider themselves a soldier in the campaign against substance abuse.
He also stressed that students who have become victims of addiction should not be discriminated against. Such students would be provided assistance through de-addiction and rehabilitation centres to help them overcome their dependence and return to a productive life.
Expressing confidence in the strength of Maharashtra’s youth, Fadnavis said that with their active participation, the state could defeat the drug menace and contribute to the vision of a prosperous Maharashtra and a developed India.
Joint Effort to Make Navi Mumbai Drug-Free
During the programme, the police, municipal authorities, citizens and young people collectively pledged to work towards making Navi Mumbai completely drug-free and safer for its residents.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated a de-addiction rehabilitation centre and released a film created to promote awareness about substance abuse and its harmful consequences.
As part of the campaign, awareness posters and reels competitions were also organised for students. The top three winners in each category were felicitated by Chief Minister Fadnavis with certificates.
The ‘Campus Connect’ initiative is aimed at strengthening direct engagement between law enforcement agencies and educational institutions while encouraging students to become active participants in the campaign against drug abuse.
