Governor Gulab Chand : States that Yudh Nasheyan Virudh is prioritizing the disruption of the economic network within the entire nexus.
Reaffirming the Punjab government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating the drug menace, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria stated on Friday that the ongoing campaign Yudh Nasheyan Virudh is prioritizing the dismantling of the economic network fueling drug trafficking.
Addressing the eighth session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Governor highlighted the government’s intensified efforts against drug trafficking and organized crime, particularly through the focused launch of the War Against Drugs initiative on February 25. To ensure the success of this campaign, a high-powered Cabinet sub-committee, chaired by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, has been established. The Governor emphasized that several drug traffickers’ properties have been demolished, sending a strong message of the government’s resolve to eliminate drug-related issues from Punjab.
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), formerly the Special Task Force (STF), has been restructured to enforce drug laws, support rehabilitation efforts, and prevent substance abuse. To spread awareness, 33,079 public meetings have been held, and 19,523 Village Defence Committees (VDCs) have been formed within just four months. Additionally, a Special Intelligence and Technical Unit has been set up to analyze drug-related data, communications, and financial transactions, significantly enhancing ANTF’s operational effectiveness.
In the fight against organized crime, the Anti-Gangster Task Force and field units have made significant progress by arresting 1,588 criminals, neutralizing 13 gangsters, dismantling 571 criminal modules, and seizing 1,477 weapons and 327 vehicles used in crimes. The government has implemented robust administrative and legal measures to maintain law and order, focusing on counter-intelligence, cybercrime prevention, and modernization. From January 1 to November 28, 2024, Punjab Police successfully busted nine terror modules, leading to 59 arrests and the recovery of multiple weapons.
The Punjab State Cyber Crime Division has taken proactive steps in tackling digital threats, including setting up 28 cyber police stations, implementing round-the-clock social media monitoring, and launching the Cyber Mittar chatbot.
The Governor also highlighted various government initiatives in health and education. As of now, 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics are operational, having provided healthcare services to 2.98 crore patients and conducted over 90 lakh diagnostic tests. Medicines worth ₹600 crore and diagnostic tests worth ₹100 crore have been made available at these clinics, significantly reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses for Punjab’s citizens. Looking ahead, ₹200 crore will be allocated for the purchase of medicines and consumables in government hospitals in the 2025-26 financial year.
To further strengthen the healthcare infrastructure, the government plans to equip all District, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and Community Health Centres with X-ray and ultrasound facilities at affordable rates. Additionally, 554 private diagnostic centers have been empaneled to offer these services at uniform pricing, with the government covering the additional costs. Over the next year, an estimated ₹53 crore will be allocated to these services.
A comprehensive three-year plan has been introduced to upgrade district hospitals, with ₹150 crore already spent on civil works and fire safety installations in 16 government hospitals in 2024-25. The Farishtey Scheme, launched on January 25, 2024, aims to reduce road accident mortality and morbidity rates by providing immediate medical assistance to victims. So far, 487 hospitals (178 public and 309 private) have been empaneled, benefiting 404 patients with a total pre-authorization amount of ₹42.55 lakh.
Punjab currently has 12 medical colleges with a total of 1,700 MBBS seats, and the government is establishing five new medical colleges in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, and Malerkotla. To promote overall well-being, the government launched the CM di Yogshala project, under which 3,200 yoga classes are conducted daily, benefiting approximately 1 lakh participants across the state.
In the education sector, the Punjab Sikhya Kranti initiative is focused on creating well-managed, secure campuses in government schools. To enhance safety and efficiency, 2,042 campus managers and 1,378 security guards have been deployed through PESCO. Additionally, 230 subsidized transport buses have been introduced for Schools of Eminence and girls’ schools. The government is also modernizing education by setting up 1,970 ICT labs, 7,702 smart classrooms, and high-speed internet (100 Mbps) in 19,120 schools.
To encourage entrepreneurship among students, the Business Blaster Scheme has been launched in senior secondary schools, supporting 51,565 students with ₹10.32 crore in seed funding to develop business ideas. Additionally, ₹568.43 crore has been invested in upgrading school infrastructure, including the construction of additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and other essential facilities.
On the agricultural front, the government is ensuring access to canal water for farmers, particularly those at the tail ends of irrigation networks. In 2024-25, 79 canal rehabilitation projects have been completed, restoring 77 long-abandoned canals covering 545 km and reviving 16,000 watercourses spanning 4,200 km. This has enabled Punjab to utilize 12% more water during the last Kharif season compared to the previous five years.
The government has also strengthened its procurement operations for wheat and paddy under the Central Pool, purchasing 121.31 lakh tons of wheat and 173.58 lakh tons of paddy during the 2024-25 Rabi and Kharif seasons, with ₹68,630 crore directly transferred to farmers’ accounts as MSP payments. Punjab contributed 45% of the wheat procured for the Central Pool.
To enhance transparency and efficiency in the distribution of wheat under the National Food Security Act, 14,400 Fair Price Shops have been equipped with e-PoS kits and electronic weighing scales. The government is also actively promoting sustainable agriculture, with farmers cultivating 2.53 lakh acres under Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)—a 48.8% increase from last year. Moreover, to facilitate basmati rice exports, Punjab has banned 10 pesticides harmful to international quality standards and launched a pilot project in Amritsar for pesticide-free basmati production.
To encourage crop diversification, the government has subsidized hybrid maize seeds recommended by PAU, Ludhiana, at ₹100 per kg, benefitting farmers with ₹2.3 crore in assistance. Additionally, 3,500 hectares have been designated for maize cultivation with financial support of ₹6,000 per hectare. An 11-member committee has also been formed to draft an agricultural policy tailored to Punjab’s environmental and economic needs, ensuring long-term sustainability and increased farmer incomes.
The government remains committed to clearing past dues and ensuring timely payments to sugarcane farmers. In the energy sector, Punjab met its highest-ever peak power demand of 16,058 MW on June 29, 2024, while providing uninterrupted power supply to agriculture consumers. Since July 2022, the free electricity scheme (300 units/month) has benefited nearly 70 lakh households, with 90% receiving zero electricity bills.
In employment, the state government has prioritized merit-based recruitment, issuing over 51,000 appointment letters since 2022. This initiative has contributed to a reverse brain drain, as many skilled youth who previously sought opportunities abroad are now choosing to serve in Punjab.
The Governor also acknowledged the government’s efforts in industry, sports, infrastructure development, transportation, law and order, anti-corruption measures, and simplified NOC procedures for property transactions. He expressed optimism that collective efforts will lead to a prosperous Punjab, committed to justice, progress, and innovation.