Newly elected pradhan bans liquor, drugs in native village

The gram panchayat of Sureer Kalan, Mathura has banned liquor and other intoxicants in Nagla Bari village.

This bold initiative was an outcome of the efforts of the newly elected pradhan (head) of Sureer Kalan, who has four other villages under him, apart from Nagla Bari.

“We are beginning the experiment in Nagla Bari and if the response is satisfactory, it would be implemented in other villages of Sureer Kalan panchayat,” said the pradhan who was optimistic that the initiative would succeed in making Nagla Bari addiction-free.

On Monday, a meeting was held in Nagla Bari and it was unanimously decided to impose penalty on those found violating the ban.

Rajesh Kumar alias Raju, 40, who won the election for pradhan’s post from Sureer Kalan panchayat, was sworn in on Sunday. Deciding to make a new beginning from his native village Nagla Bari, he discussed the idea of banning consumption of liquor and other intoxicants in the village.

“Everyone, including youths and senior citizens, welcomed the move and we organised a panchayat on Monday in which about 250 villagers took part. We discussed the modalities for an effective ban on liquor and other intoxicants,” Raju said.

“It was decided to impose a penalty of ` 1,100 on anyone found having liquor and a pen- alty of ` 2,100 on those consuming drugs including ‘ganja’. There is also a provision for awarding the informer who reveals about such practices. Those providing information about liquor consumption would be awarded ` 101 and those giving information about use of ‘ganja’ or other drugs would be paid ` 501,” said the newly elected village head.

Raju, who is an ayurvedic doctor, said that to manage the affairs, a committee had been constituted with one of the villagers appointed as president and another as treasurer. The committee is to have 25 members from the village. WOMAN PRADHAN RUN OVER BY VEHICLE, DIES

LUCKNOW: A newly elected gram pradhan Sita Devi (42) was run over by a vehicle in Bhadar area of Amethi district on Monday. Sita died on the spot while her daughter Shyama (16) was injured in the incident .

She was rushed to Trauma center Lucknow where her condition is stated to be serious. Irate over the death the villagers blocked the movement of the traffic on the highway. Police force was deployed in the village.