ITANAGAR, SEP 15:

Governor K T Parnaik on Tuesday called for greater youth participation in the fight against substance abuse, saying declamation and painting competitions can help young people understand social issues and encourage them to become partners in building a drug-free society.

After inaugurating declamation and painting competitions under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at the Lok Bhavan here, he said such platforms not only create awareness about the harmful effects of drugs but also help develop public speaking skills and encourage young minds to think critically about issues affecting their communities.

The governor said the fight against substance abuse required collective efforts and active involvement of young people.

A total of 31 students from higher educational institutions across the state participated in the declamation competition.

The painting competition also saw participation of 35 school students.

The programme aimed to use creative expression and informed dialogue to spread awareness about substance abuse and reinforce the message that combating the menace requires sustained collective commitment.