CHANDIGARH, June 22 — The state’s ongoing ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign is expanding its focus beyond traditional medical rehabilitation by successfully transitioning recovered individuals into stable livelihoods. Former substance abuse victims who completed treatment at various state facilities have secured employment at hotels, shopping malls, and prominent logistics platforms, marking a significant step toward their long-term social and economic reintegration.
The initiative, operational since March 2025, treats employment as a core pillar of sustained recovery rather than just an afterthought to medical discharge. According to project tracking data from regional facilities, stable employment has emerged as one of the most effective deterrents against relapse, allowing individuals to actively support their families while regaining social standing.
Medical experts involved in the state-wide program stated that connecting clinical treatment directly with vocational survival is vital for permanent rehabilitation. The strategy marks a shift toward measuring anti-drug efforts through the volume of restored lives and successful career placements alongside routine law enforcement metrics.
“Such success stories underline the importance of linking de-addiction treatment with rehabilitation and employment support,” declared Dr. Abhay Raj Singh, Nodal Psychiatrist at the Jalandhar De-addiction Centre. “Every recovering individual who returns to work represents not just a personal victory, but a stronger family and a safer community.”
Participants in the program asserted that entering the workforce provided them with the necessary structure to maintain their sobriety. Beneficiaries noted that earning a regular income shifted their self-perception from recovering patients to financially responsible citizens with long-term aspirations.
“Rehabilitation helped me survive, but a job helped me live again,” affirmed Praveen Dhall, who secured employment with a quick-commerce grocery delivery service. “When I began earning, I stopped seeing myself as an addict trying to recover and started seeing myself as a person with responsibilities and a future. That feeling kept me firmly away from drugs.”
