Banking on youth, sports to turn villages around

Block Samiti - Nagar Zone

A day ahead of the panchayat polls on December 14, it is the youth of the four villages he represents, whose issues weigh heavy on his mind.

The scourge of drugs, taking youth back to sports, freeing villages of long-standing issues like waterlogged roads --- are the key issues around his election campaign has been centred.

Thirty-eight-year-old Parshotam Singh --- activist, panch and a highly qualified candidate (MSc in IT and MA in Punjabi) --- has had his entire campaign centred around the village populace and their issues, especially the youth. Contesting the Block Samiti elections from the Nagar Zone in Phillaur, Parshotam represents the villages Katpalon (where he is also the panch), Nagar, Ashahoor and Fatehgarh Lakkha.

Ask him about the pivot around which his campaign revolves, and pat comes the reply, "Youth".

Parshotam Singh says, "Naujawani nu bachaya jave (youth must be saved). The prime concern with any well-meaning citizen in Punjab today must be that our youth is heading in the wrong direction and they must be brought back from drugs or other ills afflicting their culture and moorings. Very few people know about the power of these elections. An elected representative of the Block Samiti can be instrumental in getting sportsgrounds, gyms and culture-related means of recreation in villages which could ensure the transformation of youth --- instead of falling prey to drugs. This is immense power."

Having been a youth leader and a member of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha, vice-president of the Punjab Students Federation and currently a member of the Lok Insaaf Manch, Parshotam is well-versed with Punjab's issues. He has fought for the rights of youths falling prey to unemployment despite degrees, fellow students' bus pass and right to reservation, ridding a local activist of false cases against him and also the struggle for Panjab University, Chandigarh.

He has also been among the activists holding month-long dharnas to free villages of contaminated water and sanitation woes besides approach roads.

Speaking on the issue, he says, "So many villages don't have proper drainage these days. This is an ever increasing problem. In some villages, even the entry gates are waterlogged. Villages do not have plants to clean water, they don't even have ROs. Villagers have the right to clean water and dry spaces. This has been a major fight of our region and an important element of my campaign."

Planning of village ponds according to new technology to counter spillovers is also among his plans, he says.

Speaking specifically on his plans, if he's elected, he says, "It's a misconception that an MLA or MP is empowered but a Block Samiti member isn't. Anyone who is aware and knows what he wants for his area is actually more empowered. For a member of the Block Samiti, Zila Panchayat funds could be spent on villages. They can also use their part of the district budget to build villages. Sportsgrounds, stadiums, spaces and gyms could be facilitated by Block Samiti members. So people must choose and vote wisely."

Zila Parishad - Patara Zone

Lakhvir Singh Hazara, a farmer who is an avid sports promoter of his area, is set to take his message of sports promotion to the ZIla Parishad polls as well.

Contesting from the AAP, Hazara, a candidate for Zila Parishad election from the Patara zone, is known best in the region for the sports activities he has been undertaking. While he contested elections from the same zone last time, he had lost to the Congress candidate Mehtaab Singh Lali. The years-long delay in the panchayat coupled with simmering issues of people, make him confident that people are fed up with false promises and need real change on the ground.

His spirit to promote sports and wean children away from drugs, keeps him upbeat.

At Patara and in neighouring villages, Lakhvir Singh has been holding various sports tournaments. An annual soccer tourney is slated for December 16 and he also hosts a Kabaddi Cup.

On why the elections are important this time, Lakhvir says, "The Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections are happening after a gap of seven years during which various works have piled up.”