‘War on drugs': AAP govt launches 13k-village poster blitz at ₹15 cr in Punjab
Chandigarh: After facing criticism over its spree to put inauguration stones on repaired toilets in govt schools under its "Sikhya Kranti" drive, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab govt is now going all out to put up posters, flex boards, and wall paintings in its "
Yudh Nasheyan Virudh
" (war against drugs) campaign in 13,000 villages across the state, at a cost of more than Rs 15 crore.
"Yudh Nasheyan Virudh. Send information on drug smugglers. Your identity will be kept secret," reads a sample poster in Punjabi, with a photo of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, his hands folded, and a WhatsApp number to share the information. In addition, wall paintings with similar wording dot the villages across the state.
A directive by the Punjab rural development and panchayats director on April 16 instructed that at least two flex boards, four wall paintings, and nearly one thousand posters should be put up in the villages across respective districts in the state. The directive stated that the cost of printing should not exceed the rates fixed by the Punjab chief electoral officer. According to the order, flex boards would cost Rs 1.92 crore, wall paintings Rs 4.74 crore, and posters Rs 8.45 crore—totalling at least Rs 15 crore.
The letter was marked to deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners (development), and district development and panchayat officers (DDPOs). It said that the exercise to put up posters, flex boards, and wall paintings should be completed within two days, and respective panchayats will make use of their funds for the purpose.
A Punjab govt functionary said that asking the officials to put out posters at a cost not exceeding the rates fixed by the Punjab CEO was "likely aimed at avoiding the tendering process and carrying out the exercise emergently." The functionary said there are "fixed rates" as approved by the CEO for each district when tendering is done during the elections. "These fixed rates are approved by the respective district election officer," said the functionary, adding that funding was done from the "fit charge," designated by the govt on panchayat funds wherein expenses are incurred by Panchayats using their own funds rather than the state govt's budget.
Another official said a target of putting 1,000 posters in each village was rather far-fetched. "This would mean posters at every possible place in the village," the official said.
"This is pure theatrics. This is drama. Which station house officer does not know who the peddlers or smugglers are in their respective areas?" said retired Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) professor of sociology Ranvinder Singh Sandhu, while reacting to the govt move.
Another GNDU retired professor from the political science department, Jagrup Singh Sekhon, told the TOI, "It is terrible. This is mimicry. It shows the restlessness of the AAP that they are cut off from the ground reality. Who does not know what is happening or what is not in Punjab? People are rather getting agitated with such publicity moves and putting photos for the sake of photos. This is a politically unwise decision and a waste of resources. One can traverse from one corner of Punjab to another in three and a half hours, and moreover, there is social media which the majority of people use. Such things are for places where communication is a problem," said Sekhon.
When contacted, Gurdaspur DDPO Gurpreet Singh said, "At least 1.77 lakh posters have been put up in 1,279 villages across the district. The remaining six villages do not have panchayats. Nearly 5,000 wall paintings are in place."
Bathinda ADC (D) Kanchan said, "Around 2 lakh posters have been put up in 318 villages in Bathinda district."
Punjab rural development and panchayats director Uma Shankar Gupta was not available for comment despite calls and texts to him.
BYPASSING TENDERS
Rs 15+ crore for two flex boards, four wall paintings and 1,000 posters per village in 13,000 villages
Orders to complete within 2 days using panchayat funds, bypassing formal tenders
Report drug peddlers via WhatsApp – identity kept secret, says the poster featuring CM Bhagwant Mann
'Optics over action'
Experts call it wasteful, politically tone-deaf, and disconnected from reality
Professors from GNDU slam the move as 'theatrics' and 'mimicry of action' with no real impact
They say in a digitally connected Punjab, such physical campaigns may be obsolete and redundant
MSID:: 120589446 413 |
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ladli Behna aid to be hiked on Rakshabandhan: CM
Bhopal: CM Mohan Yadav has announced that the monthly assistance under the Ladli Behna Yojana will be increased on the occasion of Rakshabandhan , with a long-term goal of raising it to Rs 3,000 over the next five years. At present, beneficiaries receive Rs 1,250 per month. Addressing a public gathering in Jabalpur district on Saturday, Yadav also announced a Rs 1,400 crore irrigation project, the Gomukh reservoir, which will benefit over 25,000 farmers across Jabalpur and Mandla districts. The project will bring irrigation to nearly 15,000 hectares in Jabalpur and 10,000 hectares in Mandla. Yadav said the reservoir will enable irrigation of 14,900 hectares in Jabalpur district and 10,100 hectares in Mandla district. He added that the tribal region is being gifted with institutions like the Sandipani School and the ITI, which shall play a transformative role in the lives of students and help shape a brighter future for them. Referring to Indian tradition, Yadav said that Lord Shri Krishna and Shri Balram had received their education at the Sandipani Ashram, Ujjain and just like them, students emerge rejuvenated after completing their education. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Yadav expressed satisfaction over development being made in the field of education in the state. He noted that two Sandipani schools (earlier known as CM Rise school) from Madhya Pradesh have been recognised on the global stage: Vinoba CM Rise School of Ratlam was declared the winner in the 'Innovation' category of the World's Best School Prize 2024, and the CM Rise Higher Secondary School in Jhabua was selected in the "Supporting Healthy Life" category. The London-based T4 Education organisation ranked these schools among the world's best. He added that government school students have outperformed private school students in this year's Class 10 and 12 board exams. Chief minister Yadav paid tribute to Rani Durgavati of the Gondwana community, highlighting her valor and administrative acumen. He recalled how she fought 52 battles and defeated enemies with courage and strategic water conservation efforts. Yadav further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the state is working to realise the late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's dream of interlinking rivers. Currently, three such river-linking projects are underway in Madhya Pradesh. He emphasised that the government is organising 'Kisan Melas' (farmer fairs) to help double farmers' incomes. A three-day agricultural and industrial fair was recently held in Narsinghpur district to promote advanced farming techniques, new technologies, and expert guidance. The CM said that the state govt is conducting the 'Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan' (Water Conservation Campaign) with the goal of constructing 75,000 farm ponds over three months. So far, 70,000 ponds have already been built in just two and a half months. He also announced that the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' amount will be increased on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, with the target to gradually raise the monthly assistance to Rs.3,000 over five years. CM Yadav mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete 11 years in office on 9 June. To mark this occasion, the state's achievements in women empowerment, youth development, poverty alleviation, and agriculture will be shared with the public. He also highlighted the importance of the newly inaugurated railway bridge over the Chinour river by Prime Minister Modi. Minister of state for technical education, skill development and employment, Gautam Tetwal, spoke on the department's achievements. He noted that the Kundam ITI, which began in 2022 with 49 students, now has a new building, hostels for boys and girls and staff quarters constructed at a cost of Rs12.63 crore. The new facilities will support the youth of the region in skill development and career advancement. Bhopal: CM Mohan Yadav has announced that the monthly assistance under the Ladli Behna Yojana will be increased on the occasion of Rakshabandhan, with a long-term goal of raising it to Rs 3,000 over the next five years. At present, beneficiaries receive Rs 1,250 per month. Addressing a public gathering in Jabalpur district on Saturday, Yadav also announced a Rs 1,400 crore irrigation project, the Gomukh reservoir, which will benefit over 25,000 farmers across Jabalpur and Mandla districts. The project will bring irrigation to nearly 15,000 hectares in Jabalpur and 10,000 hectares in Mandla. Yadav said the reservoir will enable irrigation of 14,900 hectares in Jabalpur district and 10,100 hectares in Mandla district. He added that the tribal region is being gifted with institutions like the Sandipani School and the ITI, which shall play a transformative role in the lives of students and help shape a brighter future for them. Referring to Indian tradition, Yadav said that Lord Shri Krishna and Shri Balram had received their education at the Sandipani Ashram, Ujjain and just like them, students emerge rejuvenated after completing their education. Yadav expressed satisfaction over development being made in the field of education in the state. He noted that two Sandipani schools (earlier known as CM Rise school) from Madhya Pradesh have been recognised on the global stage: Vinoba CM Rise School of Ratlam was declared the winner in the 'Innovation' category of the World's Best School Prize 2024, and the CM Rise Higher Secondary School in Jhabua was selected in the "Supporting Healthy Life" category. The London-based T4 Education organisation ranked these schools among the world's best. He added that government school students have outperformed private school students in this year's Class 10 and 12 board exams. Chief minister Yadav paid tribute to Rani Durgavati of the Gondwana community, highlighting her valor and administrative acumen. He recalled how she fought 52 battles and defeated enemies with courage and strategic water conservation efforts. Yadav further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the state is working to realise the late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's dream of interlinking rivers. Currently, three such river-linking projects are underway in Madhya Pradesh. He emphasised that the government is organising 'Kisan Melas' (farmer fairs) to help double farmers' incomes. A three-day agricultural and industrial fair was recently held in Narsinghpur district to promote advanced farming techniques, new technologies, and expert guidance. The CM said that the state govt is conducting the 'Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan' (Water Conservation Campaign) with the goal of constructing 75,000 farm ponds over three months. So far, 70,000 ponds have already been built in just two and a half months. He also announced that the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' amount will be increased on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, with the target to gradually raise the monthly assistance to Rs.3,000 over five years. CM Yadav mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete 11 years in office on 9 June. To mark this occasion, the state's achievements in women empowerment, youth development, poverty alleviation, and agriculture will be shared with the public. He also highlighted the importance of the newly inaugurated railway bridge over the Chinour river by Prime Minister Modi. Minister of state for technical education, skill development and employment, Gautam Tetwal, spoke on the department's achievements. He noted that the Kundam ITI, which began in 2022 with 49 students, now has a new building, hostels for boys and girls and staff quarters constructed at a cost of Rs12.63 crore. The new facilities will support the youth of the region in skill development and career advancement.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Diversification, policy reforms aid Odisha's industrial progress: CM
1 2 3 4 Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the BJP govt's one-year anniversary, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday said that Odisha is becoming a "diversified industrial powerhouse" and a top investment destination in the country by not just approving investments worth Rs 4.5 lakh crore but also successfully grounding projects worth Rs 1.78 lakh crore. "Odisha is no longer just a minerals and metals hub. We are becoming a diversified industrial powerhouse, where opportunity flows from port to plant, and from cities to every aspirational district," the CM said during a meeting with leading industrialists and entrepreneurs in the city. "We are not merely sanctioning projects; we are grounding them. We are not making promises; we are delivering results — at scale, with speed, and with purpose," Majhi said. Mapping the industrial growth story, he said, "In just one year, we approved over 200 large and mega projects. Odisha now stands for credibility, competitiveness and commitment to progress." The CM said industries are diversifying from minerals and metals to green energy, agro-processing, technical textiles and shipbuilding, with investments flowing into 20 sectors. He attributed the success to proactive policy push like outcome-based governance and a "whole-of-govt model" that emphasises seamless coordination between departments and agencies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Roadshows in Delhi, Mumbai and Singapore have pitched Odisha as a hub for chemical, electronics, capital goods and advanced manufacturing, while two major events, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Utkarsh Odisha — Make in Odisha Conclave-2025, attracted global attention and industrial giants expanding the state's economic footprint, Majhi said. Majhi also spoke about the ambitious vision for 'Samruddha Odisha' by 2036, aligning with the centenary celebration of formation of the state. He outlined four key priorities in the upcoming year, including the launch of new policies targeting emerging and sunrise sectors, expansion of land banks, logistics corridors and critical infrastructure. He emphasised revamping the single-window system with digital-first project tracking and simplification of regulatory compliances to speed up approvals and encourage entrepreneurship. To support industrial labour, the state is developing 13 workers' hostels and modernising seven industrial estates with plug-and-play infrastructure. Furthermore, 30 MSME parks and 8 new industrial areas have been initiated to empower small enterprises and entrepreneurs. Industries minister Sampad Chandra Swain, MSME minister Gokulananda Mallik, development commissioner Anu Garg, and senior officers, among others, attended the event.
The Print
43 minutes ago
- The Print
Delhi govt believes in working for people: CM Gupta
She said that in the last 100 days, her government has not just made promises but delivered results on the ground. Gupta was addressing a public meeting under the '100 Days of Trust' campaign in west Delhi's Janakpuri. The event also marked the 11 years of the Modi government at the Centre. New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said her government only believes in working for people and not in publicising their achievements. The chief minister said that this is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'sankalp se siddhi', and the government is wholeheartedly working with the same spirit to serve the people. She made an appeal to the public to continue supporting their elected representatives, emphasising that now the central, state, and municipal governments are working together in Delhi. 'The days of passing blame — 'this is not my responsibility' — are gone. Now, the work is everyone's responsibility,' she said, taking a dig at previous governments. She alleged that the previous government 'spent more on publicity and doing little on the ground'. Gupta said her government is a government of work, not of names, and it believes in service, not showmanship. Listing out her government's achievements in the past 100 days, she said they have installed 1,000 water sprinklers to control pollution and removed 20 lakh metric tonnes of sludge from drains flowing into the Yamuna. Dismissing the odd-even scheme as 'publicity stunt', she emphasised that real, long-term solutions are now being implemented. She announced that anti-smog guns have been installed on the rooftops of all high-rise buildings in Delhi, and claimed that cloud seeding (artificial rainfall) will soon begin for the first time in the capital. The previous AAP regime had alleged that the Centre was not cooperative on the cloud seeding proposal. Gupta stressed that instead of announcing flashy mega-projects, her government has prioritised basic amenities such as drains, sewage, pothole-free roads, and drinking water, because these are the real needs of the people. For slum redevelopment, a separate budget of Rs 700 crore has been allocated for infrastructure such as drains, toilets, bathing areas, and paving works. She assured residents that until they are given permanent housing, no slum will be removed and all basic amenities will be made available where they currently reside. The chief minister said the present government follows the mantra of 'seva (service), not mewa (rewards).' Calling minister and Janakpuri MLA Ashish Sood a dedicated public servant, she said, 'We must bring Janakpuri to the top among Delhi's 70 assembly constituencies.' She said under her team's hard work and PM Modi's leadership, Delhi will transform, grow, and take a leading role in the nation's development. 'This is not a government of ministers or chief minister, it is a government of the people of Delhi, and every decision we make reflects that commitment,' Gupta said. PTI SLB KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
