Faridkot, June 29: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday officially opened 500 advanced rural gymnasiums, asserting that promoting active fitness spaces remains the most powerful tool to insulate regional youth from substance abuse. Speaking at a public gathering in Faridkot, the Chief Minister declared that the sports network expansion is moving forward rapidly, with 250 of the targeted 3,100 rural athletic grounds already handed over to local communities.
The state is introducing an ecological conservation plan alongside its health programs, focusing on the comprehensive overhaul of rural public ponds. Under this strategy, wastewater will undergo specialized purification treatments before being distributed for irrigation, thereby reducing rural farming reliance on depleting underground aquifers.
Detailing the foundational impact of these facilities, the Chief Minister said, “For the first time in Punjab’s history, a record ₹1,791 crore has been allocated exclusively for sports. Providing our youth with access to playgrounds and modern gyms is among our highest priorities. These are not merely gyms. They are the foundation of a healthier generation and a brighter future for Punjab’s youth.”
The administration is also initiating extensive economic support structures for families, with the Chief Minister affirming that monthly credits will be dispatched securely into bank accounts starting this week. The broad-based welfare initiative will award ₹1,000 monthly to general category women and ₹1,500 to those from Scheduled Caste backgrounds, encompassing existing social security pensioners as well.
The Chief Minister noted, “The state government has already made a budgetary provision of ₹9,300 crore to ensure its effective implementation. Our sole vision is to build a Drug-Free, Healthy and Rangla Punjab.”
The rural launch event concluded with strategic interactions involving Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and other prominent dignitaries.
