Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab spends Rs 46.49 lakh to strengthen drug-free campaign
Babuhshahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 4, 2026: Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Saturday said that the Mann government is taking concrete and result-oriented steps to make Punjab a drug-free state, with visible impact at the grassroots level.
Addressing a meeting, the Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state government is pursuing the anti-drug campaign with firm resolve and continuity.
To further strengthen the initiative, the government has spent ₹467.49 lakh on awareness, sensitisation, and community participation programmes across Punjab.
Dr Baljit Kaur said that multiple departments of the Punjab government are working in close coordination to generate awareness against drug abuse and to encourage social participation.
Special emphasis has been placed on sensitising children, teachers, and educational institutions through targeted awareness programmes, for which dedicated financial resources have been allocated.
Providing a breakup of the expenditure, the Minister said that the Department of Health and Family Welfare spent ₹107.22 lakh, the Information and Public Relations Department utilised ₹202.99 lakh for large-scale public awareness campaigns, while the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development spent ₹109.12 lakh to organise awareness camps in all districts of the state.
Highlighting the social impact of drug abuse, Dr Baljit Kaur said that the youth and their families suffer the most, with countless households losing happiness and stability due to addiction. She said the Mann government understands this pain and is approaching the issue not merely as an administrative task, but with sensitivity and compassion.
The Minister added that the government’s objective is not only to eliminate drugs from their roots, but also to restore hope among the youth, support affected families, and rebuild a future of dignity and prosperity for Punjab.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Pratap, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Kumar Rahul, Special Secretary Keshav Hingonia, Director Dr Shena Agrawal, Joint Secretary Anand Sagar Sharma, along with other departmental officers.