It was a poll pledge of a journalist-turned politician, Jabna Chauhan, the youngest Gram Panchayat pradhan of Tharjoon in remote Gauhar block of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh to eradicate drug abuse and save younger generation from its ill effects.

After filing nomination for panchayat elections, I witnessed that most of the youth and even school-going children of Tharjoon and its surrounding areas have fallen prey to alcohol and tobacco products, Chauhan told The Statesman.

“Since then I decided to eradicate the menace if I was elected in the panchayat elections,” she said.

After winning the election, Chauhan started her mission to aware locals about the ill effects of alcohol and tobacco products abuse. She contacted all 5 Mahila Mandal groups in the Panchayat and even formed a group of local youth.

“It all started 5-6 months back when I convinced and led a delegation from Tharjoon panchayat to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for closing liquor vend in the area,” she said.

After this, Jabna started contacting the panchayat members of surrounding villages and convinced them to start such campaign in their areas too. The prolonged discussions between the members of Tharjoon Gram Panchayat and its resident, the Gram Sabha passed a resolution in February this year to ban sale and consumption of liquor and tobacco products from 1 March 2017.

Jabna Chauhan has also won the district level award of Best Pradhan and her apnchayat also stood first in district in terms of cleaniness.

And now, the battle has now spread to surrounding panchayats of Cheuni, Lambathatch, Baga Chinogi and Sharan and these panchayats have also banned sale and consumption of liquor and tobacco products.

In fact, in these panchayats, the Gram Sabhas has also banned serving of liquor during marriages and have decided to impose a fine of Rs.20,000 on those who would violate the rule.

Mandi-based lawyer and social activist, Hem Singh Thakur, said the problem of liquor consumption had become severe after the opening of liquor vends in these areas. “The locals used to consume alcohol and used to return home in inebriated condition, leading to tension within families,” he said.

The situation had become so serious that two-three persons of Cheuni panchayat lost their lives after they fell into a gorge in inebriated condition. “After witnessing the ill-effects of drug abuse, the women along with Jabna Chauhan started the campaign, which had now borne fruits,” he said.

Thakur said the Panchayat members would now submit the resolution with Excise Department for closure of liquor vends in the next financial year.