SDM Navdeep Singh, ACP Manmohan Singh join the anti-drug initiative under 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh'

Jalandhar: D.A.V. College, organised D.A.V. Walkathon 1.0 on April 25, 2026, a mass awareness march against drug abuse, in collaboration with the District Administration under the state-level campaign 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh'. Over 600 students, faculty members, and parents from six D.A.V.
institutions — D.A.V. College, Jalandhar, D.A.V. Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mahatma Hans Raj DAV Institute of Nursing, Police D.A.V. Public School, Dayanand Model School (Model Town), Dayanand Model School (Dayanand Nagar) — participated in the drive for physical fitness and drug-free living. The walkathon was flagged off at 6:15 a.m. from Guru Gobind Singh Stadium and culminated at Shivani Park, Model Town. The closing ceremony was held in the presence of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sh. Navdeep Singh, PCS, and ACP Sh. Manmohan Singh, PPS, who is also an alumnus of the college.

Principal Dr. Anoop Kumar, along with Vice-Principals Prof. Kunwer Rajeev and Prof. Sonika Dania, Registrar Prof. Ashok Kapoor, Deputy Registrar Prof. Manish Khanna, Dean EMA Dr. Ekjot Kaur, and Event Coordinator Prof. Isha Sehgal, welcomed the guests and presented them with planters as a token of appreciation. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Dr. Shilpy Jetly , Principal DAV Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation; Dr. S.K. Gautam, Principal, DMS (Dayanand Nagar); Sh. Vinod Kumar, Principal, DMS (Model Town); Dr. Surjit Lal Sahota, Secretary, Red Cross; Sh. Ravi Dara, Assistant Director,  Department of Youth Services; noted Punjabi singer Sh. Dalwinder Dyalpuri, and Sh. Ravi Duggal, President, Model Town Market Association,  Jalandhar. Speaking on the occasion, Principal Dr. Anoop Kumar expressed his gratitude to the distinguished guests, Principals of the participating D.A.V. institutions, Dean EMA Dr. Ekjot Kaur, the coordinating committee members, and the college staff for their wholehearted cooperation in making the event a
success. He emphasised that social welfare lies at the heart of the D.A.V. educational philosophy and called the walkathon a symbolic gesture with the potential to spark a wider movement against drug abuse. 

SDM Sh. Navdeep Singh described the walkathon as a meaningful initiative in the fight against drug abuse. Addressing the youth, he said that as the future of the nation, their participation is indispensable in combating social evils like drug addiction. He acknowledged that the walkathon may be a small step but maintained that its impact would be far-reaching. He urged the students to be problem solvers, not bystanders, and to take personal responsibility for building a drug-free society. The change starts with each one of you, he said, calling upon the youth to lead a movement towards removing the blemish of drug abuse from Punjab and realising the vision of a Rangla Punjab. The participants then took a collective oath against drug abuse, pledging to lead and promote a
drug-free life. The ceremony featured a cultural performance by Sh. Ravi Dara, a musical act by Sh. Dalwinder Dyalpuri, a performance by the D.A.V. Band, followed by an electrifying Bhangra performance. Prof. Sharad Manocha moderated the event.