Chandigarh, March 31: Exhorting all the stakeholders to come forward for eradicating the scourge of drugs from the sacred land of Punjab, the Governor of Punjab Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria said that the war against drugs needs to be transformed into a people's movement in order to achieve success in this holy mission.

Interacting with media persons at Punjab Raj Bhavan the Punjab Governor said that it is in keeping with this noble goal that a padyatra against the drug problem would be undertaken from April 3rd till April 8th, 2025 covering the Districts of Gurdaspur and Sri Amritsar Sahib. He divulged that the Padyatra would commence on April 3rd from Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur and culminate for the day at St. Francis Convent School, Dera Baba Nanak. On the 4th of April, the padyatra would start from Badesha Marriage Palace and conclude at SD College for Girls, Fatehgarh Churian.

The Amritsar leg of the padyatra would start on April 5th from Guru Harkrishan Public School, village Nawan Pind and making a halt for the day at Guru Ramdas College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, Village Pandher. On April 6th, the yatra would have Oxford School in village Majhupura as the starting point while the ending place would be SBS Nursing & Medical Sciences Campus, village Chetanpura. The April 7th would see Circuit house, Amritsar as the starting point while the ending point would be Maharaja Ranjit Singh statue at Rambagh garden in Amritsar. On the last day i.e. April 8th, the yatra would begin from Deen Dayal parking at Bhandari bridge and end at Jallianwala Bagh. On all days, the Yatra would commence at 7 am.

Calling the padyatra as part of the efforts of the war on drugs being undertaken by the State Government, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria elaborated that only when all the sections of the society viz. Educationists, Religious Heads, Intellectuals and common public make consistent collaborative efforts this endeavour would reap the fruits of success. On the way, interactions with the residents of the villages & towns would also be held so as to inspire them to join this movement.

The Governor also solicited the active support of the media in this noble mission and expressed confidence that the fourth pillar of democracy would lend a huge helping hand to ensure that awareness against drugs percolates down to the grassroots level.

The problem of drugs is not Punjab's alone instead it afflicts the entire Nation. Hence, the need to join hands to save our country, society and our children. We have to keep trying and making continuous efforts and one day indeed we shall be victorious, added the Governor.