Punjab Launches ‘Har Pind Khel Maidan’ Mission to Build 3,100 Modern Sports Grounds in Villages
The plan includes advanced playgrounds, sports nurseries, and a unique maintenance model where local youth clubs will manage the facilities. This mission marks a major step toward healthier, stronger, and more active rural communities.
Chandigarh: The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has launched a major and historic plan that aims to completely change the look and spirit of the state’s villages. This huge project, called ‘Har Pind Khel Maidan’ (a playground in every village), is not only about creating new spaces—it is a strong step toward building a bright and colourful Punjab.
Run in mission mode, this scheme is designed to give the youth of the state a healthy, disciplined, and hopeful future. It brings a new beginning for rural Punjab and promises to change daily life in the villages.
How Will This Plan Help in the Fight Against Drugs?
The biggest goal of this effort is to support the government’s strong drive against drugs right from the village level. The authorities understand that punishing offenders is not the only solution. Young people must be given a better and attractive alternative. This scheme offers them a positive path by encouraging them to join sports and stay active.
It is a smart and creative step that directs the energy of village youth into sports instead of harmful habits. This project also works as a social reform, inspiring young people to choose health, teamwork, and self-discipline over addiction.
What Makes the Investment in This Project So Significant?
The Punjab Government has shown its deep commitment to this idea by approving a huge budget of Rs 1,194 crore. This entire amount will come from the state budget, highlighting the priority the government gives to youth welfare and rural progress. In the first stage, nearly 3,100 villages will get modern sports grounds. This is only the start, as the ultimate aim is to build such grounds in all of Punjab’s 12,500 villages—something the state has never seen before.
Punjab is known for producing top athletes, and this mission aims to revive that strong sporting tradition. These grounds will become training spots where future stars can begin their journey. The project will also support the successful ‘Khedan Vatan Punjab Diyan’ sports festivals. In addition, around 260 new “sports nurseries” will be established near these grounds to help identify and train young talent at an early stage.
What Features Will These Ultra-Modern Stadiums Include?
These new sports stadiums are much more than usual playgrounds. Depending on the need and available land, they will be built on areas between 0.5 and 4 acres. They will offer quality grounds for hockey, football, volleyball, and cricket, along with running tracks. Beyond sports, they will also act as wellness centres for people of all ages, with open-air gyms, yoga and meditation areas, children’s activity zones, and special spaces for senior citizens.
This plan is not just on paper—the work has already begun at full speed. In the Sunam constituency, 29 stadiums worth Rs 11.5 crore have been approved, and the first 11 sites, costing Rs 5.32 crore, are already under construction with a target of finishing in only 3 months. The project costs vary between Rs 23.94 lakh and Rs 117.16 lakh based on village needs. Likewise, in the Lehra constituency, 40–41 stadiums are planned and foundation stones have been laid for 28 of them. In Amritsar district, 495 possible sites have been marked, and work has begun at 174 of these locations.
How Will These Facilities Be Maintained in the Long Run?
One of the most forward-thinking parts of this project is its maintenance model. The government is not stopping after completing construction or providing free sports equipment. Instead, it will hand over the responsibility of running and taking care of the grounds to local youth clubs. This is a strong step that builds community ownership and pride. It ensures these spaces will stay clean, active, and well-maintained for many years, safeguarding the government’s investment of Rs 1,194 crore.
The ‘Har Pind Khel Maidan’ mission is a turning point in Punjab’s development story. It fights drugs, encourages new sports talent, and becomes a social space for village life—all at the same time. It brings alive the dream of ‘Badalde Pind, Badalda Punjab’ (changing villages, changing Punjab). Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, the Punjab Government has shown that it does not just promise change—it is taking real steps to build a Fit and Prosperous Punjab.
