Thane: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday urged the youth to stay away from narcotic drugs and instead focus on education, sports, skill development and nation building.

Fadnavis was speaking after launching the 'Campus Connect' campaign at the D Y Patil University's Centre of Excellence in Nerul in Navi Mumbai.

Organized by the Navi Mumbai Police as part of their 'Drug-Free Navi Mumbai' initiative, 'Campus Connect' aims to create awareness about the dangers of drug use among college students.

Fadnavis said the country's youth, who make up 65 per cent of the country's population, are a vital asset that anti-social elements and hostile forces attempt to target through drug networks.

"Every educational campus is a battleground in this fight, and every student is a soldier against drug abuse," he said, while assuring that students battling addiction would receive help.

He also launched new rehabilitation centers on this occasion.

Fadnavis, who heads the Home department, also inaugurated a state-of-the-art surveillance command center to bolster regional security at the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner's Office.

The Prahar Integrated CCTV Command and Control Centre (ICCC) has been developed jointly by the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, and Panvel Municipal Corporation, an official release said.

The system provides police with 24/7 high-definition monitoring capabilities.

This report was published from a syndicated wire feed. Apart from the headline, the EdexLive Desk has not edited the copy.