Moga villages vow zero tolerance to drugs

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6

The death of at least 35 youths, mostly sportspersons addicted to drugs, in the past more than one year has shaken the residents of five Moga villages.

They have vowed not to allow the sale of drugs in the villages. They have banned the entry of drug peddlers in their villages.

The village elders, residents of Galoti, Lalhandi, Bhinder Kalan, Bhinder Khurd and Datewal villages, have launched a unique anti-drug movement which is certain to inspire the residents of other villages too.

Each of these villages in the Dharamkot Assembly constituency, represented by Agriculture Minister Tota Singh, has formed an 11-member committee.

The members have taken a pledge in village gurdwaras not to allow drugs in any form in their villages.

To spread their campaign, the members have resolved to set up similar committees in all 160 villages in Dharamkot.

“We keep a complete vigil in and around our villages, particularly after dusk, to keep drug peddlers at bay.

“We spend most of our time persuading youths to shun drugs,” explained Gurvinder Singh, Datewal village sarpanch.

He said the committee members had already handed over five drug peddlers to the police in the past 20 days.

“The death of a large number of youngsters who were addicted to ‘chitta’ (smack) proved an eyeopener for us. Even in a small village like ours, at least 20 youths have died in the past four months,” the sarpanch said.

Gurnam Singh, sarpanch of Galoti village, said some sportspersons of his village had turned addicts and had died in the past one year. “We cannot tolerate such tragedies any more,” he said.

State minister Tota Singh said the eradication of the menace in villages was not difficult.

“Since people in villages are well-acquainted with one another, identifying peddlers and addicts is not a difficult task,” he said.

He said to send a message across to the masses, dope test on public representative should be made mandatory. “We should set an example and boost the morale of people affected by the drug menace,” the minister suggested.

The SAD had organised massive anti-drug awareness rallies at border posts on Tuesday.