Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party government is strengthening its anti-drug initiative, ‘Yudh Nashe Virudh 2.0,’ by engaging communities, local leaders, and newly formed Village Guards Committees. Rallies and awareness padayatras are being conducted from January 9 to 25 across districts like Ludhiana East, Malout, and Phagwara to educate citizens about the dangers of drug abuse.

Village Guards Committees, modeled after border defence groups, consist of ten members in each village to coordinate reporting and prevention efforts at the grassroots level. The campaign also leverages technology through a mobile application and a missed-call reporting system, enabling residents to notify authorities about drug-related issues.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Mann highlighted the success of the initiative, noting 28,000 cases registered against drug peddlers, 42,000 arrests, and demolition of illicit properties over the past year. Officials emphasize youth participation as a key to making Punjab drug-free, with enforcement, awareness, and de-addiction strategies forming the core of this second phase.