In a highly praiseworthy incident, non-resident Indians (NRIs) of Chakkar village, Punjab, have taken the initiative to install CCTVs at major spots like entry and exit points to maintain security and keep anti-social elements at bay. According to many villagers, this initiative has made the area safe and secure and relieved them.
“About 200 NRI families of the village are in the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Italy. They have contributed immensely to developing the village infrastructure, including a lake, waiting halls, NRI guest house-cum-panchayat ghar, among others. They wanted us to have a robust security system in the village, so NRI Vikas Committee, which gets money from them for village development, got CCTVs installed,” Gurmail Singh, a village panch, was quoted as saying.
Villager Chamkur Singh confirmed that as many as 40 high-definition cameras had been installed at nine entry and exit points in the village, near the park, religious places and other public areas. The panchayat ghar has been used as the control centre for the CCTVs.
“Our village is an example of how NRIs can change the fate of villages, especially with infrastructure. We are thankful to them,” Chamkur Singh said.
Villagers, especially the youth, appreciated the initiative and claimed that setting up the security system has been of immense help.
“Earlier the village saw a few theft cases and some anti-social elements would at night sell liquor. Such activities have been checked with the installation of CCTVs by the NRI Vikas Committee,” Sukhjit Singh of Nawjawan Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Club of the village said, adding that anybody who suspects foul play approaches the panchayat, and a member immediately comes with him to check CCTV footage.
Ludhiana (rural) police have showered praises on the NRIs for their effort.
“Chakkar had reported crime cases, but with the installation of CCTVs, there has been a lot of improvement. We appreciate the villagers, especially NRIs, for setting up systems that also help us in checking and detecting crime,” said Ludhiana (rural) SSP Charanjit Singh.
