A sharp game: A large crowd of spectators witnessed Nuh’s Mewat Kabaddi League match. |Picture source: Special arrangement
On a pleasant evening earlier this month, the grounds of Nagina Village in Nuh District, Haryana are exciting. Hundreds of sports enthusiasts (mainly youth and several women) gathered under the floodlights – hanging undecidedly on temporary wooden poles with tri-color – witnessed the final of the Mewat Kabaddi League between the villages of Dhauj and Nakhrola.
What is the point of a seemingly ordinary match between two villages in the state’s most backward areas is the basic message of the tournament: “Nasha Mukt Mewat (Drug-free Mewat).”
The Mewat region with a large Meo-Muslim population includes not only the NUH region, but also part of the Faridabad and Palwal region of Haryana. It also extends to areas adjacent to Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Drug addiction
Haryana has witnessed a surge in drug addiction over the past decade. Mewat area is no exception, with young people increasingly suffering from substance abuse, especially opium, marijuana and other forms of dry toxic substances.
Mewat RTI Manch convener Rajuddin Meo, who is also one of the tournament organizers, admitted that NUH’s growing drug addiction problem. “This fact is undeniable. There are more than a dozen villages in the area that have been particularly affected,” he said. The Mewat Kabaddi Alliance aims to promote sport in the villages to keep youth and adolescents away from drug abuse.
The five-day tournament from April 30 to May 4 exceeded the organizers’ expectations, attracting more than a dozen teams from Nuh, Faridabad and Palwal and attracting an impressive audience.
Finals’ main guest, Ferozepur Jhirka Mla Mamman Khan, sworn in to the young, pledging to stay away from drugs and promote non-toxic Mewat.
Naseem Santhawari, a 45-year-old local resident, recalls Kabaddi once was very popular among young people in the NUH village, but its popularity faded over time. He said the game has rekindled interest in the sport. “Suddenly, I saw children and teenagers playing Kabaddi in the village. It’s a good sign. Drug addiction has also led to an increase in theft and robbery. I hope that such efforts will encourage young people to adopt sports and avoid drugs and crime.”
Mewat RTI Manch’s efforts to organize the alliance have also been supported by the government, ambulances, vehicles in police control rooms and police personnel present to ensure the law and orders. Sports training lecturers and coaches in the Sports and Sports Department also help with the competition.
Raise awareness
The massive vote of hundreds, sometimes thousands, provides organizers and officials with an opportunity to address a variety of health and social problems outside the campaign, including increased TB cases, high school dropout rates and drug addiction.
“NUH is prevalent in health officials in NUH. Consistent with Haryana’s mission, health officials use the event to educate people. Education officials also took this opportunity to share information about the ongoing school admission process,” Mr Meo said.
Regional sports official Manoj Kumar praised individuals, Panchayats and Mewat RTI Manch for their efforts to organize the competition. He called it a “great success” and suggested extending it to every neighborhood in the area.
Mr Kumar said the local government is also committed to promoting sport and aims to achieve 100% participation of Panchayats in its “Khelo Mewat” initiative. He said there are five sports, including volleyball, tug of war and wrestling, and there are flexible timing and venues to maximize participation. He added that the regional government is working to improve the sports infrastructure, provide better facilities in the stadiums, and distribute sports kits to Panchayats.
Regional sports officials say not only can keep young people away from drug addiction, but it can also open doors for work in the military, police and railways. He said that despite the lack of infrastructure and support so far, NUH’s boys and girls have achieved great success in sports and even won the championship at the international level.
publishing – May 17, 2025 at 01:50 am
