NEW DELHI: Punjab, once synonymous with the devastating drug crisis, is scripting a new chapter under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The fight against drugs has moved beyond police stations and into classrooms, with the government launching India’s first scientifically designed anti-drug curriculum across all government schools in the state.
Since August 1, nearly 800,000 students from grades 9 to 12 are being taught this special course aimed at drug prevention and life skills. The program is part of CM Mann’s flagship campaign “Yudh Nashiyan De Virudh” (War Against Drugs).
Designed by a team led by Nobel Prize winner Prof. Abhijit Banerjee, along with education experts, the curriculum focuses on building resistance skills among students. To ensure smooth implementation across 3,658 government schools, more than 6,500 teachers have undergone specialized training.
Students will attend 35-minute sessions every fortnight for 27 weeks, learning how to say no to drugs, resist peer pressure, and make informed choices. Lessons are not limited to lectures—activities include films, quizzes, posters, worksheets, and interactive group discussions to shift attitudes.
A pilot run in 78 schools across Amritsar and Tarn Taran yielded remarkable results. Among 9,600 students, 90% agreed that trying drugs even once could lead to addiction, compared to far lower awareness levels earlier. Misconceptions also dropped: the belief that willpower alone could overcome addiction fell from 50% to 20% after exposure to the program.
“These numbers show that prevention through education works. With changed thinking, society changes,” an education department official said.
The Mann government has made its policy clear—a dual approach of strict crackdown on supply and smart action on demand. Since the launch of “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” on March 1, 2025, Punjab Police have arrested over 28,025 drug traffickers up to the end of August.
Parents, educators, and community leaders are hailing the initiative as a turning point. “For the first time, we feel our children are truly safe from drugs,” said a parent from Tarn Taran.
Officials say this pioneering model could inspire similar initiatives across India. Beyond an education policy, the government is calling it a social revolution, with the long-term goal of transforming “Udta Punjab” into “Rangla Punjab”—a vibrant, drug-free state regaining its cultural and social pride.
“The Mann government is not making empty promises. This is a sacred mission,” an official statement read.
