Raah-E-Nijat

The drug epidemic in parts of Bengaluru is real, escalating, and devastating young lives. Raah-E-Nijat — “the path to salvation” — is ABF’s community-driven response.

Our strategy

We don’t run a rehab clinic. We run a network.

• Education — youth workshops on the science and reality of addiction, plus skills to resist peer pressure.
• Coalition-building — convening parents, teachers, local leaders, former users, and law enforcement so that nobody is fighting the problem alone.
• Safe spaces — sports, arts, and skill-building programmes that crowd out the alternative.
• Awareness campaigns — reaching whole neighbourhoods through masjids, schools, and community halls.
• Rehab referrals — direct linkage to government de-addiction centres, NIMHANS, and partner mental-health services.

Coordination with the state

In December 2023 ABF convened a joint meeting with the Karnataka Minority Commission and senior police officials at the Drugs Control Department. NGOs from across Bengaluru attended. Police officials committed to intensifying enforcement to disrupt drug supply chains; we committed to mobilising the community on the demand side.

The work continues — most recently through community awareness sessions held in February and March 2025, addressing both government-scheme literacy and substance abuse in the same conversation.

Why this approach

Addiction is rarely solved by punishment alone. The community has to want a different future for its young people. Raah-E-Nijat is the scaffolding for that — equipping local teams to lead, and being the connective tissue between families, professionals, and the state.