FATEHGARH SAHIB, Aug. 14 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said hundreds of panchayats in Fatehgarh Sahib district had formally declared their villages drug-free, calling it a sign of growing public participation in the state’s anti-narcotics campaign.
Speaking after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Mann noted that villagers themselves were coming forward to certify progress against drugs. He reaffirmed his government’s resolve to crack down on drug peddlers and anti-social elements. “They will not be spared. We are determined to wipe out the drug menace,” he said, adding that “big fish” had already been put behind bars.
Mann also pointed to broader governance reforms, stating that the Revenue Department had been “almost freed from corruption.” “Earlier, people used to pay hefty bribes to get their work done,” he said.
The chief minister did not take media questions but continued to focus on public engagement during the visit. Earlier in the day, he flagged off a special train carrying women panchayat members to Nanded, Maharashtra, where they will receive training aimed at strengthening grassroots governance.
Officials said the declarations from Fatehgarh Sahib’s panchayats were part of an ongoing campaign in which local bodies are encouraged to adopt and maintain drug-free status, underscoring the government’s commitment to community-led change.
