Mehsana: Panchcha village in Mehsana district of North Gujarat is carving out a new identity by reinventing itself as an addiction-free community through a combination of strict enforcement and collective willpower.

Over the past few years, the untimely deaths of several youths due to liquor addiction deeply shook the village, prompting residents to take collective action. Grieving families and villagers convened a gram sabha on December 16, 2025, where a unanimous resolution was passed to make the village addiction-free.

Watch | In a video, a person can be seen standing in a cage in a North Gujarat village. While this person has entered the cage on a lighter note to make a reel, the cage itself is real and for a purpose. The villagers of Panchha unanimously decided to ban the consumption, sale,… pic.twitter.com/pp8LdjYwqz

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To ensure the success of the initiative, the village implemented several stringent measures:

Special enclosure: A dedicated enclosure was built in the village where anyone found consuming alcohol in public, entering the village in an intoxicated state, or violating prohibition rules is kept temporarily before being handed over to the police.

High-tech surveillance: The Gram Panchayat and a special prohibition committee conduct periodic surveillance using drones to monitor illicit activities.

Strict enforcement: The ban has successfully deterred people from nearby villages who earlier visited Panchcha for alcohol-related activities.

Impact on the community

The results of this collective resolve have been significant, with more than 50 people giving up alcohol so far. Misconduct and public disturbances have noticeably decreased, creating a safer environment for children. Family well-being has improved, with residents reporting greater happiness at home following the enforcement of the ban.

One resident, who previously consumed alcohol occasionally, said his life and his family’s condition have improved significantly since the village adopted complete prohibition.

What began as grief over tragic incidents has turned into collective determination, and today Panchcha village is emerging as a model of de-addiction, discipline, and social awareness in the region. DeshGujarat