CM Bhagwant Mann Accelerates Village Sports Ground Drive Across Punjab

Punjab is placing sport at the centre of its social reform blueprint, with the 86th Qila Raipur Sports Festival emerging as more than just a celebration of rural athleticism. Ludhiana is witnessing the 86th Qila Raipur Sports festival, popularly recognised as Rural Olympics, which grabbed all attention with its unique stand on leveraging sports for social development.

While addressing the festival, CM Bhagwant Mann emphasised framing sports as Punjab's strongest weapon in the war against drugs campaign, “Yudh Nashey Virudh”.

"The aim is to instill a sporting culture in the state and steer young people away from the scourge of drug addiction”, Mann said, reinstating the vision behind allocating 979 crores to engage youth in sports and fitness.

Backing this initiative, Mann had earlier this month also announced the government's will to collaborate with PCA and BCCI in organizing the Punjab Cricket League in order to channelise the youth’s energy towards a healthy lifestyle and away from substance abuse. Alongside this, Mann had also inaugurated the building of 4000 sports grounds in villages during the first phase of his fight against drug menace in Punjab, with work on 3083 starting immediately.

Another praiseworthy enterprise was launched by Haryana police named Sports For Youth initiative targeting drug abuse through sports, as witnessed in Haryana’s Nuh region Inter-State Kabaddi Tournament endorsing the slogan ‘Nasha Mukt Mewat’.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs also promotes sports as a remedial medium in the war against drugs through Nasha Mukti Abhiyan and Khelo India initiatives. Parallel promotion of native leagues has also turned local athletes into everyday ambassadors of clean living for instance, the Olympic star Neeraj Chopra, who continues to promote substance-free lifestyle campaigns at grassroot levels.