Himachal Pradesh has approved the Khelo Himachal–Chitta Mukt Abhiyan 2026, a statewide sports campaign designed to engage young people and strengthen efforts against drug abuse. The programme will run from December 2026 to March 2027 across all 12 districts and 83 sub-divisions, according to the state government.
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said sports could help build discipline, confidence, leadership and teamwork among young people. He said the campaign would create a constructive platform for youth while supporting the state’s efforts against chitta, or heroin, and other drugs.
The Khelo Himachal campaign will target people aged between 15 and 30. Separate competitions for men and women will be organised in eight disciplines: cricket, volleyball, kabaddi, badminton, athletics, hockey, wrestling and tug of war.
The competitions will follow a three-tier structure. Events will begin at the sub-division level before moving to district-level contests and concluding with state-level events. The state government said the format would give rural, remote and tribal youth an opportunity to display their sporting abilities and compete at higher levels.
Players identified as having exceptional potential may be considered for specialised coaching, training camps, sports science support and competitive exposure. The report does not specify the number of participants, venues, budget allocation or the process through which athletes will be selected for additional support.
The programme will also incorporate anti-drug awareness activities into sporting events. These will include interactive sessions and information about counselling and rehabilitation services. Mental health and the overall well-being of participants are expected to receive attention during the campaign.
Participants below the age of 18 will be covered by safeguards including parental consent. The government also said medical facilities, grievance redressal mechanisms, fair-play protections and anti-doping awareness would form part of the programme.
An apex committee headed by the chief minister will provide policy direction. State-, district- and sub-division-level committees will oversee implementation, creating an administrative structure that mirrors the campaign’s competition format.
Sukhu said addressing drug abuse would require collective participation from families, educational institutions, sports organisations and local communities. The campaign is scheduled to proceed through sub-division and district competitions before the state-level events are held between December 2026 and March 2027.
