CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Calls for Massive Awareness Drive to Curb Stubble Burning
*Punjab Govt’s Strenuous Efforts Have Cut Stubble Burning by 86% from 2023-25: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*
*NGOs, Social Workers Must Be Roped In to Motivate Farmers: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*
*Social Media Awareness Campaign Must Be Conducted on Big Scale: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*
*Ex-Situ, In-Situ Paddy Straw Management Must Be Encouraged: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*
CHANDIGARH; 1st September 2026 (WISHAVWARTA):- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday called for a massive, multi-level information and awareness campaign to further check paddy straw burning in the state, as Punjab’s sustained government-led efforts have already delivered an 86% decline in such incidents from 2023 to 2025. Directing officers to take the campaign deep into villages and blocks, the Chief Minister stressed that active participation of NGOs, social workers, Panchayats and farmers, backed by large-scale social media outreach and stronger ex-situ and in-situ paddy straw management, is essential to consolidate these gains and protect Punjab’s environment.
Chairing a meeting on the Paddy Straw Management Strategy, the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that around 30 lakh hectares of paddy has been sown in Punjab this year, which is expected to generate 18.81 million tonnes of paddy straw. “Due to the strenuous efforts of the Punjab government, Punjab has witnessed an 86% reduction in stubble fire incidents from 2023 to 2025. The incidents have come down from 36,663 in 2023 to 10,909 in 2024 and further to 5,114 in 2025. We have to take this progress further and ensure that stubble burning incidents are reduced even more this year,” he said.
Calling for an intensified grassroots campaign, the Chief Minister stated, “A massive information and awareness campaign must be launched at the village and block levels to make farmers aware about the hazards of paddy straw burning. Every stakeholder must work together to motivate farmers to adopt sustainable alternatives to stubble burning.”
He said NGOs and social workers should be actively involved in the campaign to strengthen efforts to motivate farmers. “NGOs and social workers should be roped into motivating farmers. Machinery demonstrations, Nukkad Nataqs, meetings with Sarpanches, pledge-taking activities and other awareness programmes must be organised extensively so that the message reaches farmers at the grassroots level,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also called for a comprehensive digital and multimedia strategy to complement field-level activities. “A detailed digital plan should be implemented covering radio jingles, print media, television, mobile SMS and outdoor media. The social media awareness campaign should also be conducted on a big scale to create wider awareness about the harmful effects of paddy straw burning and the available management options,” he said.
Emphasising the need to encourage farmers and village institutions that perform well, the Chief Minister stated, “Progressive farmers, best-performing Panchayats, PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) and other stakeholders should be felicitated for their contribution. Such recognition will encourage others to adopt better practices and make paddy straw management a collective movement.”
He further stressed the need for close coordination among all stakeholders and districts for effective implementation of the strategy. “Perfect coordination should be ensured among all stakeholders and districts so that the entire plan is implemented smoothly and effectively. Every department and stakeholder must work in a coordinated manner to achieve the desired results,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister also underlined the importance of both ex-situ and in-situ management of paddy straw. “Ex-situ and in-situ management of paddy straw should be encouraged so that farmers can benefit in a big way while the environment is also protected. Our objective should be to provide farmers with practical and sustainable alternatives to stubble burning,” he said.
Cabinet Ministers Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Hardeep Singh Mundian, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Secretary Science and Technology KK Yadav, Principal Secretary to CM Dr. Ravi Bhagat, Secretary Agriculture Arshdeep Singh Thind and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.
