Moga villagers unite against drugs, woman sarpanch leads fight

The Dhur Kot Ransingh gram panchayat in Moga district has decided to make the village drug-free. Village’s woman sarpanch Karamjit Kaur and panchayat members have vowed to combat the growing menace of drugs that has been affecting the youth in the region.

Motivated by a need for change and a desire to protect future generations, the panchayat had resolved to take a strict action against those involved in the sale of drugs in the village, said Karamjit.

The new initiative includes a fine of Rs 10,000 on anyone caught selling drugs, with very strictest action for repeat offenders. The panchayat has committed to providing free treatment to those struggling with addiction, offering a supportive route to recovery for individuals seeking help.

“Our priority is to ensure that our youth stay away from drugs and that those already into it get the help they need. We will not tolerate drug peddlers in our village,” said Karamjit.

She emphasised that the village’s future lied in its youth and that the gram panchayat would make every effort to keep them safe and healthy.

The panchayat has also enforced a ban on the sale of tobacco, cigarettes and other tobacco-mixed substances to individuals under the age of 18. Shopkeepers in the village will face severe penalties if they violated the regulation.

Dhur Kot Ransingh has now become the first village in Moga district to take such a comprehensive and determined stand against drug abuse. The decision is expected to set a precedent for other villages in the region to follow suit, in an effort to reclaim communities from the devastating effects of addiction.

If any political leader or official supported a person selling drugs, the committee would protest against him by staging dharnas, she said. She said the proposal against drugs had been passed by the village panchayat.