Kerala - Kozhikode   

Special issue of `Prohibition' released

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: What started as a bulletin in the 1980's, `Prohibition,' the publication of the Kerala Madya Nirodhana Samiti, has now become a strong and concerted mouthpiece of prohibition activists in Kerala.

A special issue of `Prohibition' was released here recently in connection with the World Anti Narcotics Day, at a programme organised by the Samiti in association with the Value Education Forum of the Malabar Christian College.

The special issue has articles by noted prohibitions in the State besides writers to highlight the dangers alcohol was posing to the State, and suggestions for combating the peril including steps that needed to be initiated by the State and the Centre.

The special issue has been got up by the editorial team led by Dr.K.K.Rahulan and Iyyancheri Kunhikrishnan.

The editorial bemoans the alarming rise in the use of alcohol and drugs in Kerala and how it was affecting the social fabric of the State.

The use of alcohol was increasing by 20 per cent each year.

It is noted that a sum of Rs.20,000 crores is spent on alcohol here.

In 2005-2006, the Beverages Corporation alone registered sales of Indian Made Foreign Liquor totalling a sum of Rs.2,635.51 crores. While in 2004-2005 it was Rs.2,320.15 crores, the sale proceeds was only Rs.2,071.32 crores in 2003-2004.

Again younger children were being drawn to liquor.

Five years back the age of children who consumed liquor was 12, now the age has come down to 10.

The recent Supreme Court ruling on prohibition is quoted to stress the extent of the malaise.

Writes Sukumar Azhikode "It is better to say that the Centre and States have no prohibition policy than to aver that they have one."

Poetry contributions come from Akkitham and others. The 18-odd articles include those from P.Gopinathan Nair and Dr. R.V.Ashokan

Messages include those from the Metropolitan of Thrissur Archdiocese Mar Jacob Thooguzhy, Philipose Mar Chrisostom, and others supporting the cause.

Homage is paid to the pioneers in the prohibition field such as K.Kelappan, Prof.M.P.Manmadhan, M.K.Kumaran, Father KuriakkoseParakkal Jose, Father Joseph Vadakkan, P.P.Ummer Koya, Lakshimi N.Menon and others.

Looking back, the samithi, which had earlier been confined to awareness classes against alcohol, had gradually launched into more proactive initiatives, including organising protest programmes all over the State and pressuring the State Government to abide by the total prohibition promise.

The publication highlights the history of the prohibition movement in the State pioneered by Lakshmi N. Menon, Prof. Manmadhan, K.P.K. Pisharodi, and scores of others.

The first issue of `Prohibition' had been released by the then Governor P.Ramachandran.

In the initial stages the editorial team led by Prof.Manmadhan had found the going tough due to lack of funds and organisational problems, the publication notes.

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