Chandigarh, June 28: Punjab is combining an expansive rural sports infrastructure project with a localized peer-support program to accelerate its state-wide anti-drug campaign. Speaking at a ceremony in Ludhiana, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that 3,100 village sports grounds and 3,000 gyms will be fully completed by July 15 to provide comprehensive recreational spaces for the state’s youth. The infrastructure drive coincides with the launch of the “Soorma” initiative, a campaign designed to honor recovered individuals and utilize their lived experiences to guide others through rehabilitation pathways.
The program focuses heavily on treating addiction as a public health issue rather than a legal violation, aiming to eliminate the social stigma that frequently impedes recovery. Recovered youth who have remained abstinent for a minimum of two years are being integrated into the state’s development plans, receiving specialized training, livelihood opportunities, and symbolic recognition items. To expand the network to every district, the government has opened a direct WhatsApp registration system where eligible citizens can text “Soorma” to participate as community mentors.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann clarified that providing supportive environments at rehabilitation hubs is essential for helping individuals achieve independent lives.
“Drug addiction is an illness, not a crime; it deserves treatment, not punishment,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated. “These youth have overcome the illness of addiction and can now help others by sharing their own experiences.”
The initiative builds upon a series of structural shifts implemented over the past fifteen months under the state’s broader welfare campaign. Alongside medical reforms, the administration noted that the state’s public education system has experienced measurable upgrades, positioning it at the forefront of national performance rankings. These systemic adjustments aim to reverse historical migration trends by creating viable local academic and professional options for families.
The government’s strategy integrates these social reforms with agricultural and civic milestones, including expanding canal water usage for irrigation to 80 percent and providing stable daytime electricity to the farming sector.
The Chief Minister declared that the combination of robust healthcare, community peer networks, and accessible sports programs will secure long-term stability for the region.
“Only one colour now remains to complete the dream of Rangla Punjab, and that too will soon be filled because Punjab will soon become drug-free,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted. “The recovered individuals were honoured with specially carved Promise Rings and uniforms carrying the symbol of the Baaj, representing courage, strength and Punjabiyat.”
