Punjab Launches 500 Village Gyms Under Anti-Drug Drive; 3,000 Planned Across State

The Punjab government has opened 500 modern village gyms across the state as part of its ongoing campaign against drug abuse, placing sports and fitness at the centre of its rural youth outreach. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann launched the initiative from Chand Baja village in Faridkot on Sunday, June 28, calling it a step towards a healthier and drug-free Punjab.

The gyms have been introduced under the state’s 'Yudh Nashe De Virudh’ campaign, which seeks to steer young people away from substance abuse by expanding access to sports, exercise and community-level recreation. The government has linked the initiative with its broader plan to create a “nasha-mukt, sehatmand te rangla Punjab”.

Mann said the facilities were not meant to be seen only as fitness centres. He described them as social spaces where young people could build discipline, stay physically active and develop a stronger connection with sports. The Chief Minister said the government’s aim was to give villages better infrastructure so that rural youth were not left out of opportunities available in towns and cities.

Punjab village gyms linked to anti-drug campaign

Launching the programme, Mann said the government wanted to create a vibrant sports culture across rural Punjab. He said better playgrounds and gyms could become an important part of preventive action against drug abuse, especially in areas where young people have limited access to structured sporting facilities.

“Today is a historic day for Punjab’s youth and the sporting world. These village gyms and playgrounds are strengthening our 'Yudh Nashe De Virudh’ campaign. We have inaugurated 500 village gyms and our vision is to build a healthy future for Punjab’s youth,” Mann said.

The state has set a target of establishing 3,000 modern village gyms across Punjab at an estimated cost of about ₹200 crore. The first phase of 500 gyms is being projected as the beginning of a larger rural fitness network, rather than a one-time infrastructure announcement.

The Chief Minister also said the Punjab government has allocated a record ₹1,791 crore for the sports sector. The allocation, he said, reflected the government’s intent to treat sports as a key part of youth development, public health and social reform.

Playgrounds and sports facilities to expand in villages

Alongside the village gyms, the government is also developing 3,100 playgrounds across Punjab. According to the Chief Minister, 250 of these have already been dedicated to the public. The combined focus on gyms and playgrounds is intended to provide both fitness equipment and open sporting spaces in rural areas.

For many villages, such facilities can become common community assets. Local access matters because families may not always be able to send children to private academies or urban sports centres. A gym or playground within the village can reduce that gap, especially for teenagers and young adults who need safe and accessible recreational spaces.

The anti-drug campaign has been one of the state government’s recurring public messages. Punjab has for years faced political and social concern over drug abuse, particularly among youth. The government’s current approach combines enforcement, public messaging and community engagement, with sports infrastructure being presented as one of the preventive tools.

Officials at the event indicated that the village gym rollout is part of a wider attempt to shift attention from short-term drives to sustained local participation. The success of such facilities, however, will depend on maintenance, supervision, equipment quality and whether panchayats and local communities keep them active over time.

Water management and women’s support scheme also highlighted

During the Faridkot event, Mann also referred to a plan for cleaning village ponds and using treated water for agricultural purposes. He said the initiative would help reduce dependence on groundwater while encouraging more sustainable water management. Punjab’s groundwater stress has been a major policy concern because of intensive agriculture and high extraction levels.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the 'Maavan-Dhian Satkar Yojana’, under which eligible women are to receive direct financial support. He said women above 18 years of age would start receiving mobile phone notifications from July 1 about assistance credited directly into their bank accounts.

Under the scheme, eligible women will receive ₹1,000 per month, while women from Scheduled Caste communities will receive ₹1,500 per month. Mann said women already receiving social security pension would also be brought under the scheme’s coverage.

According to the Chief Minister, nearly 97 per cent of women in Punjab are expected to benefit from the initiative. The state government has set aside ₹9,300 crore in the budget for the scheme. The scale of the programme makes it one of the most significant welfare announcements linked to direct cash support for women in the state.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and other dignitaries were present at the Chand Baja event. With the first 500 village gyms now inaugurated, the next test for the programme will be how quickly the remaining facilities are completed and whether they become regular, well-used spaces for young people in villages.