Kheri Khummar village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district has set an inspiring example in the fight against drugs. Residents of the village have joined hands to raise Rs 50 lakh and have begun building a sports ground on panchayat land. Youngsters of the village are contributing two to three hours of voluntary labour every day to prepare the ground. The initiative will not only give the youth a place to play, but will also steer them away from drugs and harmful habits towards sports and physical fitness. Village sarpanch Raj Kumar has described the collective effort as commendable and inspiring, calling it an example of the whole village standing together.
The initiative gained momentum after a worrying incident in the village, when drug-injection equipment was found at a location in Kheri Khummar. The discovery forced the village youth and elders to think about how to protect the younger generation from substance abuse. Residents felt that if young people had access to sports facilities and regular physical activity, they would use their free time productively. After this, villagers began collecting donations from household to household. Every family contributed according to its capacity, and soon Rs 50 lakh had been collected for the purpose.
The proposed facility will include a running track, a kabaddi court and other basic sports infrastructure. Raju, a villager, said the ground will give young people a place to practise running, prepare for physical efficiency tests and pursue their sporting interests. Mohit, another villager, said one of the key objectives of the ground is to help young people prepare for the physical examinations conducted during recruitment to the Army, police and other uniformed services. With a proper running track and space for physical training within their own village, aspirants will no longer need to travel elsewhere to prepare. Children and teenagers are also expected to take up different sporting activities and develop an interest in fitness from an early age.
Work on the ground has been going on for the past month. Nikhil, a villager, said the ongoing work includes bringing soil to the ground, levelling the surface and preparing the area for sporting activities. The youngsters are actively participating in the work, making the project an example of community participation and collective responsibility. The ground will benefit not just the youth, but also women, children and elderly residents, who will be able to use it for morning and evening walks. In this way, the initiative will improve the health and lifestyle of the entire village.
Kheri Khummar has a population of around 7,000, spread across more than 1,200 households. Sarpanch Raj Kumar said at least one member of almost every family is serving in the Army or the police, which has inspired many village youths to aspire for careers in the armed forces and police services. The sports facility will prove to be a boon for them, giving them a space to prepare and improve their physical fitness. The village’s initiative shows that when a community stands united, it can bring about big change even without waiting for government help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kheri Khummar village and what has it done?
Kheri Khummar village is in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. Its residents have pooled Rs 50 lakh to build a sports ground on panchayat land to keep the youth away from drugs.
How was the Rs 50 lakh raised?
Villagers collected donations from household to household, with every family contributing according to its capacity. Youngsters are also giving two to three hours of voluntary labour every day.
What facilities will the sports ground have?
The proposed ground will have a running track, a kabaddi court and other basic sports infrastructure, for running practice, physical test preparation and sporting activities.
Why did the village start this initiative?
Drug-injection equipment was found at a location in the village. After this incident, residents decided to build a sports ground to protect the youth from substance abuse.
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