Around 30 villages spread across two districts of Punjab and Haryana are witnessing a wave of transformation in their fitness regime with state-of-the-art gyms to steer their youth away from the menace of drug addiction and other undisciplined lifestyles.

Over 500 young men are now actively engaged in regular workouts, embracing health and discipline over addiction, said a spokesperson of HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), which has set up the facilities in 29 villages in Bathinda district of Punjab and adjoining Sirsa district of Haryana within a period of six months.  One more gym is under construction at Pakka Kalan village in Bathinda, taking the number to 30.

All the border villages are situated near HMEL, also known as Guru Gobind Singh Refinery. The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with village panchayats and local youth groups, has proved to be a major success.

Notably, many young men preparing for careers in the Indian Army and the Police Department are using these facilities to build their physical strength and endurance, the spokesperson added.

“These gyms are not only helping youth maintain physical fitness but are also fostering community participation, unity, and collective responsibility — helping to diminish the social impact of drug abuse in the region,” the officer said.

How it all started

One of the examples of community participation has emerged from Bhangi Rughu village in Bathinda, where the youth took an inspiring initiative to renovate a gym room with their own savings.

Under the leadership of a youth named Hardeep Singh, the group pooled together nearly ₹4 lakh from personal savings and worked tirelessly for 46 days to prepare the gym space. Their teamwork and commitment stood as an example of rural youth empowerment.

Recognising their spirit, HMEL came forward and provided the village youth with modern gym equipment, enabling them to transform the space into a full-fledged fitness centre. Today, several young men from the village are training regularly — many of them aiming for a career in the Armed Forces or the Police Department.

A similar success story has come from Bhangi Deepa village in Bathinda, where some young men had fallen prey to drug abuse a few years ago. Under the leadership of the village panchayat and local NRIs, and HMEL’s support, a community movement began to bring change.

Together, the villagers raised nearly ₹14 lakh to construct a new gym building, while HMEL provided the latest gym equipment. The results have been transformative — youth who once drifted towards substance abuse are now reclaiming their lives through fitness, said Gopal Singh, husband of the village sarpanch.

He added, “The gym has given a new purpose to our youth. Around 10–12 young men are now preparing for the Army and Police recruitment. This initiative has helped restore hope, health, and unity in our village.”

Amneet Kaur Kondal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda, said, “It is a positive step as it will channelise the energy of youth towards a healthy lifestyle.”

Meanwhile, in Haryana’s Desu Malkana village, several ex-servicemen and local youth have joined hands to keep the initiative active and sustainable. The gyms have become centres of community bonding, fitness, and social reform.

In Tigri village near the Haryana border, the grama panchayat has allocated space in the panchayat building for the gym. Sarpanch Pushpinder Singh shared, “After the gym opened, we’ve seen a visible positive change among our youth. They are now investing their time in building their bodies instead of wasting it on harmful activities.”

Since its inception, HMEL’s fitness initiative has covered villages, including Tigri, Hessu, Malkana, Tarkhanwala, Ramsara, Desu Malkana, Chattha, Khokhar, Aseer, Naurang, Pakka Khurd, Lehri, Natheha, Bhangi Nihal Singh, Bahman Jassa Singh, Chak Ruldu Singh, Sukhladdi, Kalalwala, Bhangi Rughu, Bhangi Deepa, and Bhangi Kalan — totaling 29 villages.

Earlier, youth from these villages had to travel long distances to gyms in Rama or Kalanwali, but now they have access to modern facilities right in their own villages, said the residents.

The gyms are being managed collaboratively by youth clubs and village panchayats, ensuring local ownership and sustainability, sources said.

Source: The Indian Express