The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Arrack ban a populist gimmick for votes’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Arrack ban a populist gimmick for votes’

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Under ideal circumstances, life should have been easier for Chandrakala from Belakodu Hosalli village in Mandya district after the imposition of ban on arrack manufacture and sales by the Janata Dal (S)-BJP Government. But things have turned out quite to the contrary because her husband has only shifted loyalties to the more expensive and easily available bottled liquor. This is proving a bigger drain on the family’s meagre resources.

“He earns Rs. 50 a day as a labourer. Earlier, he would spend Rs. 12 to Rs. 14 on his drink. Now he spends Rs. 40 and the remaining goes for his beedi. I look after my three children on the Rs. 30 I earn a day,” said Ms. Chandrakala at the press conference organised by Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane here on Friday.

Members of the sanghatane and the women who had come from Mandya spoke about how the much-publicised arrack ban had proved counterproductive in the absence of a clear policy to control licensing and sale of liquor. They said that even arrack was available in many villages in bottles instead of sachets. “In our villages, liquor is easier to get compared to foodgrains in ration shops,” said Devi from Gowdagere. Lakshmi K.S., general secretary of the sanghatane, said that the sale of Indian Made Liquor (IML) had seen a steep increase after the imposition of the arrack ban.

The annual sale of IML stood at 12.80 lakh cartons before the ban in June 2007. The sale had jumped to 32.21 lakh cartons by December, she said.

As many as 8,000 licensed liquor shops were operating throughout Karnataka and rules on their location and quantum of sale were being flouted with the connivance of the Police, Excise and Legal Metrology departments, she said. “There are liquor shops in residential areas and even next to schools. They sell liquor by pegs at the shops, though it cannot be allowed as per the law,” said Ms. Lakshmi.

Unless there is a stringent control on the sale of IML and licensing procedure, arrack ban is no more than a populist gimmick to garner votes, said M. Kumari C., joint secretary of the sanghatane.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka