Chandigarh, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has given in-principle approval for a pilot spiritual wellness programme to support the rehabilitation of people battling drug addiction in the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Fazilka. The initiative will complement existing medical treatment at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics and jails in Gurdaspur and Kapurthala.
The decision was taken during a meeting between the Chief Minister and a delegation of the Art of Living Foundation in Chandigarh on Friday. The proposed programme will focus on psychosocial care, emotional well-being and sustained rehabilitation alongside medication-based treatment.
Mann said that while Punjab had expanded access to medical treatment for people affected by drug addiction, retaining patients in treatment during the initial months remained a major challenge.
“The initiative will introduce an ‘Art of Living’-based spiritual wellness programme aimed at bridging the crucial gap between medication-based treatment and sustained psychosocial rehabilitation,” the Chief Minister said.
He emphasised that de-addiction involved emotional resilience and willpower in addition to medical care, adding that the state government aimed to support people battling addiction in returning to dignified and purposeful lives.
According to Mann, the proposed pilot will complement existing clinical treatment and be implemented with the support of medical staff. Trained local personnel will gradually take over the programme to ensure its continuity without long-term dependence on external support.
He said the initiative would expand the state’s approach to tackling drug addiction by placing additional emphasis on rehabilitation, relapse prevention, community participation and long-term recovery, alongside law enforcement and medical treatment.
“The state government has already broken the backbone of the drug trafficking network by choking the supply chain and sending traffickers behind bars. The next crucial step is to ensure timely and effective rehabilitation of people affected by drug addiction so that they can lead their lives with self-respect and dignity,” Mann said.
The Chief Minister also asked the Art of Living Foundation to undertake a pilot project in Mansa and Sangrur districts to develop strategies for groundwater recharge and conservation. The project will initially focus on these two districts, with the possibility of expansion across Punjab.
Mann stressed the need for coordination among government departments to ensure that awareness initiatives reach farmers, young people, students and other sections of society.
“Safeguarding Punjab’s declining groundwater level remains one of the government’s foremost priorities,” he said, adding that conserving groundwater was essential to ensuring long-term water security and climate resilience.
Highlighting the state’s canal irrigation infrastructure, Mann said the government had laid 14,000 kilometres of pipelines and expanded the network of watercourses and distributaries to increase the use of canal water for agriculture.
He said canal water utilisation for agriculture had risen from 22 per cent when the present government assumed office to 88 per cent.
Mann also shared figures on groundwater stress, stating that the number of blocks facing critical groundwater stress in Punjab had declined from 166 in 2022 to 152 in 2026. Of the 152 blocks, 90 were showing signs of improvement, with groundwater levels reportedly rising by one to one-and-a-half metres in those areas.
The Chief Minister noted that Punjab continued to produce around 18 million metric tonnes of paddy annually for the country’s food reserves, despite rice not being the state’s staple food.
He said the government would continue to strengthen canal irrigation, promote water conservation and take measures to protect groundwater resources for future generations.
Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and other senior officials attended the meeting. The Art of Living Foundation delegation included Brahmachari Pragya Chaitanya, Chairman of Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, along with other representatives.
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