Nabha village quarantines itself, sets example

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 27

A remote village in Nabha with a population of 750 has taken an initiative that drew appreciation from the Union Government. Agetta panchayat has sealed the entry and exit points of the village for all outsiders and sanitised the entire village, besides strictly following the curfew norms.

Led by sarpanch Harpreet Kaur, the villagers have formed committees to enforce the rules. They are giving access to people only after getting complete details about the visitor and properly sanitising the entrant.

“The villagers have told their relatives not to visit them. We are all together in his hour of crisis. The entire village is contributing to ensure that the curfew orders are followed in the right spirit,” says Harpreet Kaur.

Village resident Bahadur Singh says they sprinkle sanitiser in the entire village every day. “This helps us keep our surroundings clean. Garbage is disposed of on a daily basis. Ration and milk supplies are met from own sources and every family is given the supply on the basis of number of members. This helps us keep track of every person, including migrants working in the fields,” he says.

Strict guidelines have also been passed by the panchayat to keep away from rumour-mongers and do not trust every post forwarded via social media. “We are in touch with the local police and if some important information is received on social media, we talk to the police to check its authenticity,” says Harjit Singh, another resident.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has appreciated the effort and also spoke to the panchayat members. “I will apprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi about this unique effort. We will encourage other villages in the country to follow the practice,” the minister is reported to have told the panchayat during a video call today.

Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said Agetta village had led by an example and he had visited the village to appreciate the effort. “Even the Union Minister and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur lauded the panchayat. I hope other villages will also follow the suit,” Sidhu said.