Ludhiana, August 3: Community-led anti-drug programs and state enforcement measures have shown steady progress over the last 500 days, according to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Speaking at an event in Ludhiana, the Chief Minister stated that the state’s multi-pronged approach focuses on strict legal actions against suppliers alongside comprehensive rehabilitation for affected individuals.
The milestone event also marked one year of active operations by village defence committees, known locally as ‘Pinda De Pehredaar’, which support regional administration efforts.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that authorities have taken 70,000 drug smugglers into custody during the 500-day period. He affirmed that the day is not far when collective public participation and local committee work will completely eradicate the issue, noting that 1.25 lakh volunteers are currently engaged across 13,000 villages.
The Chief Minister declared that state efforts have successfully shifted focus toward youth development, merit-based job placements, and academic excellence.
Referring to development parameters, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserted that the state has made remarkable gains in basic education, outperforming several other states. He declared that official data from NITI Aayog confirms Punjab’s top ranking in primary and middle-school education nationwide, pointing to recent student successes in competitive examinations like JEE and NEET as proof of overall educational improvement.
