The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Stir against belt shops is first step’

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Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Stir against belt shops is first step’

Special Correspondent

Prohibition watered down deliberately by poor enforcement: Mallu Swarajyam

HYDERABAD: Even as the State government garnered a record excise revenue through liquor shop auctions, women’s groups are working on strategies to curb ‘indiscriminate’ sale of liquor.

The State Committee of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) is confident that the movement against ‘belt’ shops would gradually grow into a massive agitation. Interestingly, AIDWA is not for prohibition but only for regulation of liquor sale and closure of belt shops. Is it a climb down from its demand of prohibition ? Has it come to the conclusion that prohibition is not practical ? Certainly not, asserts AIDWA State honorary president Mallu Swarajyam.

Awareness created

“Prohibition imposed by the late NTR government, following the Dubagunta movement, was enforced for two years disproving detractors who said it would fail,” she recalls. The movement brought tremendous awareness in the State.

“Prohibition failed because the subsequent governments watered it down deliberately by poor enforcement. They did not reign in ‘corrupt’ excise staff who allowed illegal sales and brewing of illicit liquor,” she remarks.

“The truth is that the present day rulers have no conviction to implement prohibition, as they view excise as an important source of revenue,” Swarajyam says without mincing words.

Both N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy came to power with the backing of women but belied their expectations by increasing liquor sales manifold.

“We demand that the government curtail liquor outlets, their timings and crack down on belt shops. Restricting access to liquor is the first step in our phased agitation,” she stresses.

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