Reporter, Sachkadastak, Dehradun
Dehradun: Educator and social activist Lalit Joshi, Chairman of CIMS & UIHMT Group of Colleges and Sajag India, has been conferred the prestigious ‘Nasha Mukt Mitra Award 2026’ by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in recognition of his sustained contribution to anti-drug awareness and youth outreach.
The award acknowledges Joshi’s more than 15 years of efforts in creating awareness against substance abuse among school and college students and motivating young people to lead a drug-free life. Through interactive youth engagement programmes, he has reached over eight lakh students across more than 1,500 educational institutions.
The honour was presented during the concluding ceremony of the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Week’, observed from June 17 to 26, at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Other dignitaries present included Parmarth Niketan founder Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Uttarakhand Higher Education and Cooperation Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Social Welfare and Minority Welfare Minister Khajan Das, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya Vice-Chancellor Dr Chinmay Pandya, and Dehradun District Social Welfare Officer Deepankar Ghildiyal.
During the week-long campaign, Joshi actively participated in several awareness initiatives. He joined an anti-drug marathon in the border region of Niti-Malari, spreading awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse among local communities. He also visited educational institutions in Dehradun, administering the pledge of “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” and encouraging students to adopt a healthy and positive lifestyle.
As part of the nationwide campaign, awareness rallies, public outreach programmes, pledge drives and community engagement activities were organised across the country. States, institutions and individuals making outstanding contributions towards drug de-addiction and awareness were recognised during the concluding event.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Virendra Kumar said the vision of a drug-free India could only be realised through collective participation, with every citizen playing an active role in keeping the country’s youth away from substance abuse.
Expressing gratitude after receiving the award, Joshi said the recognition belonged not only to him but also to the volunteers, teachers and young people associated with Sajag India.
“This honour recognises the collective efforts of everyone associated with Sajag India. It inspires us to work with even greater commitment towards building a drug-free society,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to the cause, Joshi pledged to further expand anti-drug awareness campaigns among the youth. More than 2,000 volunteers and representatives of various social organisations participated in the concluding programme.
