We are drug-free, proudly proclaims this Raikot village

Rajgarh (Raikot): This village takes pride in being completely drug-free, with not a single villager hooked to intoxicants. The villagers are also installing flex boards at various places to declare the status.

“Our village has more than 900 residents, of which over 50 are youth. In this village, which came into existence around 20 years before Independence, once lived maternal grandparents of Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale.

Because of his teachings, the village has no addicts and our social and cultural set-up is such that drugs cannot take roots here. Children are told about the harmful effects of drugs and they daily spend three hours at the local gurdwara,” said Tarseem Singh, who remained the panch for 10 years and is husband of incumbent sarpanch Swaranjit Kaur.

The residents said they ensure that no anti-social element or peddler enters their village. “Youth and elderly keep a watch at the entry and exit points. If a suspicious person is seen, we question him,” said 31-year-old Amritpal Singh, a founder member of village sports club. He added that villagers also inform the agencies concerned for action if they find any peddler.

The youngsters said they focus on making their lives meaningful. “We have got this life for a purpose and it will be a sin to waste it on drugs. Since this village is related to the great saint, we believe in following his teachings and staying away from drugs,” said 24-year-old Jaspreet Singh, who helps his family in farming and has studied up to Class XII.

The villagers said they don’t even allow the sale of cigarettes and bidis.

They claim the drug-free tag wouldn’t have been possible without the support of police and the civic administration. “They helped us in many ways and we were even honoured by Ludhiana rural SSP Varinder Singh Brar during a function at Raikot a few days ago. We are also installing flex boards at four places declaring our drug-free status so that people from other villages can get inspired,” said sarpanch Swaranjit Kaur.

Police have also appreciated the efforts of the village. “We honoured Rajgarh panchayat during a function and are trying to eradicate drugs from more villages in Ludhiana,” said the Ludhiana rural SSP.