CHANDIGARH: Anganwadi workers across Punjab are actively joining the state government’s Yudh Nashean Virudh campaign as Nasha Mukti Mitras, establishing a community-level network to educate families and prevent substance abuse.
During a state-level event organized in Malout, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr. Baljit Kaur felicitated 20 Anganwadi workers serving as Nasha Mukti Mitras for their efforts in raising drug awareness. Due to their regular interaction with local households, these workers are positioned as community ambassadors to spot early warning signs, counsel families, and link individuals to state de-addiction and rehabilitation centers.
Highlighting sports as an effective preventive measure, Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur distributed over 100 sports kits containing football, hockey, cricket, and volleyball equipment to local youth. She affirmed that the state government is rapidly expanding sports infrastructure to offer constructive outlets for young people, noting that approximately 3,000 sports grounds are currently under development across Punjab alongside 500 recently launched village gyms.
Dr. Baljit Kaur maintained that the state’s strategy combines strict enforcement against drug supply chains with comprehensive rehabilitation and community prevention. She urged parents, teachers, panchayats, and youth clubs to join the campaign, while encouraging young people to support vulnerable peers rather than isolating them. The event also featured cultural performances, theatrical plays on drug prevention, and student competitions centered on building a healthy state.
