Shekal panchayat in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh declared war on the liquor and drug menace. The panchayat which consists of four villages including Sandar, Dhara, Kyarku, and Shekhal, could be able to mobilise the support of its residents for the cause.

With women of the panchayat coming out in support of the initiative in a big way they could be able to initiate a decisive battle against the scourge.

Panchyat Pradhan Sarita Nagta, 40, said, “Five mahila mandals of the panchayat have been convinced to take out rallies in their respective areas, after which a joint rally will be taken out soon to spread awareness and sensitize the people of the panchayat,” said.

The population of the panchayat is around 2,500 comprising over 200 families other than the floating population including migrant labourers.

In a survey led by the pradhan, it was revealed that some people in the area indulge in antisocial activities including liquor and substance abuse which is a cause of concern for the residents as it would have an adverse impact on the new generation.

“With the growing menace of drug abuse in various parts of the state, including our neighbouring villages in the Shimla district has raised serious concerns for us. Hence, we decided to take stern measures to nip the evil in bud,” she said.

Many women, most of them wives of daily wagers working in the orchards, complained that their husbands came home drunk and would blow away their wages on liquor, forcing their families to live a life of misery, she said, adding that they were at times beaten up for objecting to it. The panchayat had to often intervene in the matter and resolve the issue.

“Requesting anonymity, some women provided inputs about the shops involved in the illegal sale of liquor. Following the inputs, I sent a decoy to purchase two bottles of liquor in the night from a shop. However, he was asked to come the next day,” she recounted.

Making a beginning, the panchayat had earlier passed a resolution to plug the illicit sale of liquor in shops and substance abuse.

The pradhan, recently, conducted surprise inspections and circulated the panchayat orders. She even pasted the panchayat orders outside the shops in the panchayat, warning the shopkeepers against any kind of illegal activity or the sale of liquor and substance abuse.

The panchayat will take legal action against those found involved in such illegal activities. There are eight shops in the panchayat area, including kiryana and mutton shops.

Shekhal panchayat, along with the mahila mandals, has been instrumental in uprooting cannabis plants from time to time, to deter those hunting for the plants to extract cannabis by rubbing it with their hands, said Sarita Nagta.