Grassroots Social Service and Youth Engagement: Strengthening the Pillars of Nation-Building

At the 11th Sant Ishwar Samman-2026, Vice President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan emphasized that the true strength of a nation lies in the dedication of its citizens to grassroots social service. The event, which recognizes individuals and organizations working at the community level, served as a platform to reiterate the government's vision of a participatory democracy where social responsibility is a shared duty rather than a state-exclusive mandate. A central theme of the address was the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' (Drug-Free India) initiative. The Vice President highlighted that substance abuse is not merely a health crisis but a significant socio-economic challenge that threatens the demographic dividend of the country. By calling for greater youth involvement, the address underscored the necessity of 'social capital'—the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society—to combat systemic issues like addiction. The emphasis on youth is particularly relevant in the context of India’s large young population, which acts as both the primary target for social welfare interventions and the most potent force for driving behavioral change.