Bhagwant Mann’s New Policy: Punjab Says ‘No to Drugs, Yes to Education’

Chandigarh : Punjab, long scarred by the devastating impact of drug abuse, is now taking a historic step to change its future. The Bhagwant Mann-led government has launched a landmark initiative shifting the battle against drugs from police stations to classrooms, aiming for lasting social transformation.

From August 1, all government schools in Punjab will introduce a scientific anti-drug curriculum for students in classes 9 to 12. This is not just another educational program but a declaration to safeguard the state’s future generations. Developed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Prof. Abhijit Banerjee’s team, the curriculum has been widely praised by scientists and education experts across India.

As part of the program, nearly 8 lakh students in 3,658 government schools will attend 35-minute classes every fortnight for 27 weeks. These sessions will teach students how to say no to drugs, resist peer pressure, make informed choices, and recognize the dangers of substance abuse. Over 6,500 teachers have been specially trained to deliver this curriculum.

Interactive methods such as films, quizzes, posters, worksheets, and activities will strengthen students’ understanding. The aim is to break myths, such as the false belief that drug use is “cool,” and to show that it leads only to destruction.

The pilot program in 78 schools in Amritsar and Tarn Taran produced remarkable results. Out of 9,600 students, 90% acknowledged that even a single dose of drugs like chitta could lead to addiction. Previously, 50% believed that willpower alone could end addiction, but after the course, that number dropped to just 20%. These results show that education can change mindsets, and transformed mindsets can reshape society.

The Mann government’s policy focuses on a dual strategy: cutting supply chains with tough enforcement and reducing demand through awareness. Since the launch of the Yudh Nashe Virudh (War Against Drugs) campaign in March 2025, over 23,000 drug traffickers have been jailed, more than 1,000 kg of heroin seized, and properties worth crores confiscated.

Yet, the government acknowledges that punishment alone cannot end this crisis. “The real change will come when every child willingly says, ‘I will stay away from drugs,’” the government stated.

This anti-drug curriculum is the first initiative of its kind by any state government in India and is being hailed as a social revolution. It demonstrates that the Mann government does not rely solely on statistics but acts on the pain and realities of its people.

This initiative is expected to lay the foundation for a drug-free Punjab, one where every parent can proudly say, “My child is safe from drugs because the government is standing with us.”

This, the government says, is true service, true politics, and the hallmark of the Mann administration.