Punjab’s New Initiative: Yudh Nashian Virudh Campaign Becomes a Major Example of Social Change

The mission, officially undertaken in February 2025, focused on eradicating the very roots of drug trafficking to save the youth from the menace and the state from the lethal clutches of narcotic drugs and substances. Chief Minister Mann has been repeatedly making it clear that "Making Punjab drug-free is not only a governmental goal; it's the people's movement taken forward by the public itself."

It has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards the drug traffickers. Anti-drone systems are installed across the 553 km Punjab–Pakistan border to check cross-border smuggling. Properties worth crores belonging to several traffickers have been confiscated and demolished, reflecting government strictness and seriousness.

Under the campaign, as of 8 December 2025, 27,081 FIRs have been registered and 39,769 accused arrested. The recovered narcotics included 1,756.381 kg of heroin, 570.207 kg of opium, 26,967.949 kg of poppy husk, and lakhs of intoxicating pills and injections, and nearly ₹14.90 crore in drug money.

Another big component of the campaign is awareness and rehabilitation. Over 4,500 villages in the state have been declared 'drug-free'. Langroya village is a prime example of this transition, where community participation and administrative efforts have together created a model of change. Modern facilities have been added to de-addiction centers, and schools in grades 9 through 12 have implemented an anti-drug curriculum.

Scores of families are getting a new lease on life with this campaign. Manmeet Kaur (name changed), hailing from Ludhiana, says, “The government’s initiative has brought back a ray of hope in the once-broken families.” To the Chief Minister, it is not only a battle against narcotics but “a fight to save the soul of Punjab.”