CHANDIGARH: Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ (war against drugs) has moved beyond a conventional police crackdown to build a comprehensive five-point battle against drugs, bringing together the police, teachers, community volunteers, youth and health workers to attack the supply network, prevent addiction, strengthen reporting and ensure timely treatment for those struggling with substance abuse.
The objective is to make it harder to sell drugs, easier to report drug peddling, harder to lure young people into addiction and easier for those battling addiction to seek treatment. This five-point framework puts enforcement and prevention on the same footing as rehabilitation, recognising that sustained action against drugs requires every layer of society to participate.
More than 50,000 VDC members have been trained in the use of the Nasha Mukti App, while community representatives are providing information not only about drug peddling but also about victims seeking help, enabling government officials to intervene at the right time.
Admissions to government de-addiction and rehabilitation centres increased from over 12,200 in 2024 to close to 34,000 in 2025, representing an increase of over 170%.The numbers underline a significant shift: people who had been suffering from addiction for years are increasingly coming forward to seek treatment at government facilities.
For the Bhagwant Mann government, the fight against drugs is therefore not confined to slogans or statements. It is about building the enforcement machinery, grassroots networks, preventive systems and healthcare capacity required to take the battle against drugs to the ground and sustain it.
