– Cabinet Ministers and MLAs are actively leading the fight against drugs on the ground: Health Minister
Patiala, May 30:
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, all cabinet ministers and Aam Aadmi Party MLAs are actively visiting villages and wards across the state, mobilizing citizens and strengthening the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign. The collective pledge is firm — the fight will continue relentlessly until Punjab is completely free from the scourge of drugs.
As part of this ongoing campaign, Dr. Balbir Singh visited the villages of Ajnauda Khurd, Ajnauda Kalan, Kansooh Kalan, Pedhni, Pedhan, and Khurd in the Patiala rural constituency, where he urged residents to unite in this critical mission.
He noted that several villages in the region are already making significant progress toward becoming drug-free. Citing Sidhuval and Bakhshiwala as examples, he shared that only a handful of individuals in these villages remain affected, and they are being motivated and supported on their path to recovery. The active and non-partisan participation of villagers in the Nasha Mukti Yatra stands as a powerful indication of the public’s growing determination to eliminate drugs at the grassroots level.
Dr. Balbir Singh emphasized that drug addiction ruins families—not only by weakening them financially but also by contributing to illness and criminal behavior. He appealed to parents to be vigilant in protecting their children from substance abuse, urging them to monitor everything from candies and snacks to their children’s company. He stressed that when an entire village remains alert, drugs cannot gain a foothold, and future generations remain protected.
The Health Minister also informed that the Punjab government has formed Village Defense Committees and Ward Defense Committees to monitor drug-related activities. These committees are not only reporting drug peddlers to the police but are also guiding addicts toward treatment and rehabilitation. He added that individuals recovering from addiction are being provided with skill training to help them become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.
Dr. Balbir Singh called on all villagers to stand united in this collective fight against drugs, asserting that only through community solidarity can this deep-rooted problem be eradicated. He also appealed for full cooperation with the Village Defense Committees to ensure the success of the movement.
Present on the occasion were Drug-Free Front Patiala Rural Coordinator Yadvinder Goldy, Harpal Singh Virk, Jai Shankar, officials from various departments, members of the defense committees, panchs, sarpanches, and a large gathering of local residents.
