Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Announces Second Phase of Yudh Nashean Virudh Anti-Drug Drive
In a significant move to combat the drug menace, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday declared the launch of the second phase of the Yudh Nashean Virudh campaign. He emphasized that this phase is designed to strike at the very backbone of drug abuse in the state, marking a renewed and aggressive push against narcotics.
Escalating the Mass Campaign Against Drugs
Mann stated that the Punjab government is fully prepared to escalate its efforts by mobilizing people in villages and deepening public participation across the region. This initiative aims to transform the anti-drug drive into a people-led movement, ensuring that communities are actively involved in the fight.
Reviewing the progress of Phase II, Mann announced that a major state-level meeting of village defence committees (VDCs) will be convened in the coming month. This meeting is expected to provide renewed momentum and sharper direction to the campaign, reinforcing its impact.
Unprecedented Mobilization of Village Defence Committees
Highlighting the scale of the effort, Mann noted that drugs are a global phenomenon, but nowhere in the world has such a vigorous war against this menace been launched. In an unprecedented manner, a 1.5 lakh-member strong team of Pinda De Pehredaar (warriors) has been constituted in the form of VDCs to make Punjab drug-free.
He explained that in the upcoming meeting, VDC members will take a pledge to ensure their villages become drug-free zones. This commitment is seen as a crucial step in fostering community ownership and accountability in the anti-drug struggle.
Recognition and Support for VDC Members
To further empower and recognize the efforts of VDC members, Mann directed officers to issue identification cards to them. This move is intended to formalize their role and ensure their work is acknowledged, thereby boosting morale and effectiveness in the campaign.
The second phase of Yudh Nashean Virudh represents a comprehensive approach, combining government action with grassroots mobilization to tackle the drug crisis head-on in Punjab.
