A ground at Nagina village in Haryana’s Nuh district was abuzz with excitement on a pleasant evening earlier this month. Hundreds of sports enthusiasts, mostly youth and a few women, had gathered under floodlights — precariously hanging from makeshift wooden poles adorned with the Tricolour — to witness the final of the Mewat Kabaddi League between Dhauj and Nakhrola villages.
What lent significance to this seemingly ordinary match between two villages in the State’s most backward district was the underlying message of the tournament: ‘Nasha Mukt Mewat (Drugs-Free Mewat)’.
The Mewat region, with a significant Meo-Muslim population, encompasses not only Nuh district but also parts of Faridabad and Palwal districts in Haryana. It also extends to districts in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Surge in drug addiction
Over the past decade, Haryana has witnessed a surge in drug addiction. The Mewat region is no exception, with the youth being increasingly affected by substance abuse, particularly opium, marijuana, and other forms of dry intoxicants.
Rajuddin Meo, convener of the Mewat RTI Manch and one of the organisers of the tournament, acknowledged the growing issue of drug addiction in Nuh. “There is no denying this fact. More than a dozen villages in the district are particularly affected,” he said. The Mewat Kabaddi League aims to promote sports in villages as a way to steer youth and teenagers away from substance abuse, he said.
The five-day tournament, held from April 30 to May 4, exceeded the organisers’ expectations, attracting a dozen teams from Nuh, Faridabad, and Palwal, and drawing an impressive crowd of spectators.
Ferozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan, who was the chief guest for the final, administered an oath to the youth, pledging to stay away from drugs and promote a drug-free Mewat.
Naseem Santhawari, a 45-year-old local resident, reminisced that kabaddi was once extremely popular among the youth in Nuh’s villages, but over time, its popularity waned. He said the tournament has rekindled interest in the sport. “Suddenly, I see children and teenagers playing kabaddi in the village. It is a good sign. Drug addiction has also led to a rise in cases of theft and robbery. I hope such efforts will encourage the youth to adopt sports and shun drugs and crime,” he said.
The Mewat RTI Manch’s efforts in organising the league received support from the administration, too, with an ambulance, a Police Control Room vehicle, and police personnel present to ensure law and order. Physical training instructors and coaches from the Education and Sports departments also assisted in conducting the matches.
Raising awareness
The large turnout of hundreds and sometimes thousands provided an opportunity for organisers and officials to address various health and social issues beyond sports, including rising tuberculosis cases, high dropout rates, and drug addiction.
“TB is prevalent in Nuh. In line with Haryana’s mission to be TB-free, health officials used the event to educate people about it. Education officials also took the opportunity to share information about the ongoing school admission process,” said Mr. Meo.
District Sports Officer Manoj Kumar praised individuals, panchayats, and the Mewat RTI Manch for their efforts in organising the tournament. He termed it a “big success” and suggested that it should be expanded to every block in the district.
Mr. Kumar said the local administration is also focused on promoting sports and aiming to achieve 100% participation from panchayats in its ‘Khelo Mewat’ initiative. He said it features five sports, including volleyball, tug of war, and wrestling, with flexible timings and venues to maximise participation. He added that the district administration is working to improve sports infrastructure, provide better facilities at stadiums, and distribute sports kits to panchayats.
The District Sports Officer said sports can not only keep the youth away from drug addiction but also open doors to jobs in the Army, police, and Railways. He said despite the lack of infrastructure and support so far, boys and girls from Nuh have achieved remarkable success in sports, even winning laurels at the international level.
Published – May 17, 2025 01:50 am IST
