On Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 3 PM, a large gathering of young people and social workers assembled in Ladnun, Didwana-Kuchaman district, for the Uttaranchal Youth Sammelan. The chief guest was not a local politician or a social media personality. It was Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore — Cabinet Minister, Olympic silver medallist, former Army Colonel — who drove to Ladnun because he believes the fight for Rajasthan’s future is won one young person at a time.
Khaskhabar confirmed the event in advance on April 11, and Thinq360 reported on April 13 that Rathore addressed the gathering with a clear, direct, and humanising message:
◆ Why Drug Addiction Is a Youth Crisis — And Why Rathore Chose Ladnun
The Government of India’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has identified drug abuse as one of the most serious threats to India’s young population. Rajasthan, like many states, faces pressures from substance abuse — particularly in districts that are geographically vulnerable to smuggling routes and socially isolated communities.
Ladnun is located in Didwana-Kuchaman district — a region that, like many parts of rural Rajasthan, needs leadership to physically show up, not just send awareness pamphlets. By choosing to be present at the Uttaranchal Youth Sammelan, Rathore sent a signal: the state government sees you, hears you, and is investing in your future.
◆ The Army Officer Who Knows What Discipline Looks Like
When Rathore speaks about avoiding drugs and choosing karma over shortcuts, his words carry a weight that goes beyond policy. He has lived the principle. At 22, he was commanding 120 soldiers in anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir. In 2004, he won India’s first individual Olympic silver medal — not through talent alone, but through years of relentless, disciplined training that left no room for self-destruction.
When he says “karma is dharma” to a young person sitting in Ladnun with uncertain prospects, he is not reciting a political line. He is sharing the operating system that took him from Jaisalmer to the Olympic podium and the Rajasthan cabinet.
◆ The Bigger Programme: Youth Leadership Across Rajasthan
The Ladnun visit is one part of a larger pattern of youth engagement initiatives that Rathore has driven since becoming minister. The Jaipur MahaKhel reached 362 gram panchayats. PMKVY 4.0 trained 3.14 lakh young people. The Maharana Pratap Sports University Bill was passed. Skill India International Centres are coming to Jaipur and Bharatpur.
The drug-free message at Ladnun is not separate from these initiatives — it is their necessary foundation. A young person who is addicted cannot benefit from a sports university, a skill centre, or a job placement scheme. Rathore’s work on youth empowerment is only complete when the youth he is empowering are free to receive it.
◆ What You Can Do — The Nasha Mukt Bharat Commitment
- Talk to young people in your community — awareness starts at home, not in government offices
- Share verified information about drug rehabilitation centres and government support
- Engage with the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan pledge — a national movement backed by the Ministry of Social Justice
- Report suspicious activity in your area to local police — drug networks only survive in silence
For all updates on youth affairs and sports, social campaigns, and Rathore’s latest news, visit rajyavardhanrathore.in. A drug-free Rajasthan is not a slogan — it is a mission being built one district, one sammelan, one conversation at a time.
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