Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann opens 1,000 more Pendu Khed Maidan, total reaches 1,764
Synopsis
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated 1,000 village sports grounds in a single ceremony at Fatehgarh Sahib on 11 November, taking the Pendu Khed Maidan tally to 1,764 — with 1,336 still to go. The mass rollout doubles as the government's most visible counter-narcotics strategy, betting that filling rural fields with football and hockey kits will do what policing alone has not.
Key Takeaways
CM Bhagwant Mann inaugurated 1,000 Pendu Khed Maidan on 11 November 2026 at Shahpur village, Fatehgarh Sahib .
Total grounds opened so far: 1,764 out of a targeted 3,100 across Punjab.
Each ground is equipped with kits for football, hockey, volleyball, and cricket .
The scheme is part of 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' , the state government's anti-drugs campaign.
Mann cited rural youth empowerment and drug prevention as the dual goals of the initiative.
1,336 more grounds remain to be developed to meet the full target.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, inaugurated 1,000 additional Pendu Khed Maidan (model village sports grounds), bringing the total number of such facilities opened so far to 1,764 out of a targeted 3,100 across the state. The ceremony was held at Shahpur village in the Amloh Assembly constituency of Fatehgarh Sahib district.
What the Pendu Khed Maidan Initiative Covers
Under the scheme, each sports ground is equipped with kits for football, hockey, volleyball, and cricket, giving rural youth access to multiple disciplines within their own villages. Chief Minister Mann described it as the first time the Punjab government had undertaken such an extensive initiative to develop high-quality sports infrastructure in rural areas, ensuring that young people did not need to travel far for modern facilities.
The programme is an integral component of the state government's broader anti-drugs campaign, titled 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' (War Against Drugs). Mann argued that channelling the energy of Punjab's youth towards sports is among the most effective tools to steer them away from substance abuse.
What CM Mann Said
'Our government is committed to making Punjab drug-free. We are dedicating another 1,000 sports grounds to the people today because our youth need proper facilities and opportunities to excel in sports. By channelising their energy towards sports, we can keep them away from drugs and encourage them to bring laurels to Punjab and the country,' Mann said, addressing the gathering at Shahpur.
He added that the objective was to create a sporting culture in every village so that young people choose 'fitness, discipline and positive activities over drugs.'
Political Context and Past Governments
Taking a swipe at previous administrations, Mann claimed they had neither provided grants to villages nor invested meaningfully in development works. He contrasted that record with his government's focus on sports infrastructure as a vehicle for rural youth empowerment and international athletic achievement. Critics from rival parties were not immediately available for comment.
Scale and Targets Ahead
With 1,764 grounds now operational, Punjab still needs to open 1,336 more to reach the stated target of 3,100 Pendu Khed Maidan. The pace of inauguration — 1,000 grounds in a single ceremony — signals the government's intent to accelerate delivery ahead of the next state election cycle. Mann also welcomed political leaders from across Punjab who attended the ceremony, calling sports 'a decisive force in building a healthy, disciplined and progressive society.'
As rural sports infrastructure expands, the government's ability to translate ground-level facilities into identifiable international athletic talent will be the real measure of this programme's success.
Point of View
Tangible deliverable in every village, timed well before the next electoral cycle. But the drug crisis in Punjab is structural, not infrastructural, and no previous government has cracked it through single-point interventions. The real question is whether these grounds will produce measurable outcomes — documented athletes, verifiable reductions in drug use among youth — or remain impressive inauguration numbers on a government scorecard. With nearly half the target still unbuilt, execution consistency will matter more than ceremony count.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pendu Khed Maidan scheme in Punjab?
Pendu Khed Maidan is a Punjab government initiative to develop model sports grounds in villages across the state, with a total target of 3,100 grounds. Each ground is equipped with football, hockey, volleyball, and cricket kits to give rural youth access to multiple sports disciplines close to home.
How many Pendu Khed Maidan have been inaugurated so far?
As of 11 November 2026, a total of 1,764 Pendu Khed Maidan have been inaugurated, following CM Bhagwant Mann's opening of 1,000 grounds in a single ceremony at Shahpur village in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The remaining 1,336 grounds are yet to be completed.
Why is the Punjab government building village sports grounds?
The government says the scheme serves a dual purpose: developing international sporting talent from rural Punjab and keeping youth away from drugs. It is officially part of 'Yudh Nashean Virudh', the state's anti-narcotics campaign, which frames sports as a constructive alternative for young people.
Where was the latest Pendu Khed Maidan inauguration held?
The ceremony for the latest 1,000 grounds was held at Shahpur village in the Amloh Assembly constituency of Fatehgarh Sahib district, attended by CM Bhagwant Mann and political leaders from across Punjab.
What sports facilities are available at each Pendu Khed Maidan?
Every Pendu Khed Maidan is equipped with dedicated kits for football, hockey, volleyball, and cricket, making multiple sports accessible to rural youth without requiring travel to urban centres.
