Chandigarh, June 6: The Punjab government has deployed a fleet of electronic rickshaws across a third of the state’s rural territories to strengthen community-led drug prevention and gather intelligence on illicit sales.
The targeted campaign brings specialized educational media directly to residents who lack access to conventional communication channels. Operating under the broader ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ framework, individual vehicles are assigned to specific rural circuits to provide clear paths to state rehabilitation services while offering citizens a secure, nameless method to report illegal activities.
“The battle against drugs cannot be won through enforcement alone,” Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh declared, affirming that public cooperation remains vital to the mission. He noted that the mobile units have successfully transformed the administrative policy into a collective civic effort, generating widespread local interest in state-backed health initiatives.
The program relies on Village Defence Committees to evaluate the field operations and channel local grievances to higher authorities. According to committee members, the presence of the e-rickshaws has successfully bridged the gap between rural families and district administrators, leading to more transparent discussions regarding the societal impacts of substance abuse.
A strict four-tier review system has been implemented to maintain administrative oversight during June. Regional coordinators and block representatives are currently auditing complaints and response times, with the data scheduled for a comprehensive cabinet-level assessment by the end of the month.
