Punjab’s Anti-Drug Initiative: Support for Villages and Sarpanch Pay Rise

Chandigarh, Punjab – Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is asking village councils for help in fighting drugs with a campaign called ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virush’. He announced that any village that declares itself “drug-free” will receive ₹1 lakh and will be improved with modern facilities. Mann said these drug-free villages will become model villages, and he promises that the government will support their growth. He also mentioned a raise in the monthly pay for village leaders, known as ‘Sarpanchs’, from ₹1,200 to ₹2,000 starting from their election day.

During a special event to celebrate ‘Panchayat Diwas’, Mann emphasized the importance of villages in making positive changes and delivering government services to the community. He encourages Sarpanchs to lead the effort to remove drugs from their communities. The Chief Minister stressed that drug dealers will not be ignored and that authorities are already making progress by stopping the flow of drugs and punishing the people responsible. For the first time, the government is destroying the properties that drug traffickers acquired illegally to discourage others from getting involved in the drug trade.

Mann also discussed the challenge of group conflicts in villages, urging Sarpanchs to work towards unity. He believes that when everyone works together, villages can thrive and grow.