*1,708 Block Coordinators & Over 1.25 Lakh Village Defence Committee Members Mobilised Under ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’*
*District-Wise Review Meetings Underway Across Punjab to Strengthen Community Participation Against Drug Abuse & Trafficking*
CHANDIGARH, July 11:
Strengthening its flagship anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ at the grassroots, the Bhagwant Mann Government has begun implementing the ‘Pinda Da Haal’ Action Plan, a structured initiative aimed at strengthening community-level participation in the fight against drugs. The action plan, finalised during the “Pinda Da Haal, CM De Naal” review meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in June, provides a framework for coordinated implementation, regular monitoring, and sustained public participation across the state.
The focus is on strengthening village-level participation in the fight against drugs. The action plan envisages district and state-level review meetings, village-specific anti-drug strategies and a monitoring framework to ensure sustained implementation across Punjab.
At the heart of this exercise is the Nasha Mukti Morcha, a dedicated committee constituted on April 15, 2025, alongside the launch of a comprehensive anti-drug awareness campaign across five strategic zones.
The Morcha’s Block Coordinators act as the crucial interface between the administration, police, health authorities and local communities. Besides spearheading awareness drives, they facilitate rehabilitation efforts, encourage community participation and help strengthen preventive interventions at the grassroots.
To further energise this network, district-level review meetings are being held across Punjab, bringing together Block Coordinators, members of Village Defence Committees and local administration. The meetings are aimed at assessing the campaign’s progress on the ground, identifying local challenges and improving coordination among all stakeholders engaged in the state’s anti-drug campaign.
Punjab currently has 1,708 Block Coordinators, who are working with more than 1.25 lakh members of Village and Ward Defence Committees members to spread awareness, encourage treatment and rehabilitation, and strengthen community vigilance against drug abuse and trafficking.
The review meetings are also expected to streamline last-mile implementation by reinforcing the role of Block Coordinators, sharing best practices and ensuring greater public participation in the campaign. Particular emphasis is being laid on motivating families to seek timely treatment for affected members while encouraging communities to remain vigilant against drug peddlers.
The district-wise review exercise began on July 6 with meetings in Tarn Taran, Amritsar Urban and Amritsar Rural, followed by Gurdaspur and Pathankot on July 7. Meetings have since been held in Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, SBS Nagar, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar and Patiala Urban.
The next phase of the outreach will cover Sangrur, Patiala Rural and Malerkotla on July 11; Barnala, Bathinda and Mansa on July 12; Sri Muktsar Sahib, Ferozepur and Fazilka on July 13; Faridkot, Moga and Ludhiana Urban on July 14; and conclude on July 15 with meetings in Ludhiana Rural-I, Ludhiana Rural-II and Fatehgarh Sahib.
The outreach marks the government’s attempt to complement sustained enforcement against drug traffickers with stronger community ownership of the anti-drug campaign. By reinforcing the grassroots network of Block Coordinators and mobilising village institutions, youth and educational establishments, the government hopes to build a long-term social response to substance abuse while advancing its goal of making Punjab a drug-free state.
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