The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : KSBC plans centre for de-addiction

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 10, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

KSBC plans centre for de-addiction

G. Anand

Hospital too on its list

Sanction sought to build facilities in 70 acres at Thiruvalla
Corporation wants to be socially responsible

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), a public sector company which has a monopoly on liquor wholesale business in the State, wants to set an example in corporate social responsibility by starting a modern multi-speciality hospital and de-addiction centre for the poor.

According to government sources, the KSBC has requested the Excise Ministry to grant sanction for setting up the facility in 70 acres of land it owns at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district. The land belongs to its only subsidiary, Travancore Sugars and Chemicals limited.

In 2008, the KSBC sold 177.17 lakh liquor cases (one case contains 9 litres of liquor) in Kerala, registering a 16 per cent increase in sales compared to the previous year.

Last year, it sold 70.60 lakh cases of beer (one case contains 7.8 litres of beer), registering a 20 per cent increase in sales compared to 2007.

The KSBC now wants to be socially responsible for the impact of its business on society by providing subsidised healthcare to the affected sections.

Hospital in four years

It plans to build a hospital in four years by contributing Rs.25 crore from its profit annually. The corporation made a profit of Rs.60 crore in 2007-08. Its profit is expected to exceed Rs.102 crore in 2008-09.

Medical care will be free for below poverty line families and subsidised for others depending on their income.

The KSBC sells approximately 40 crore bottles of liquor a year. It might impose a surcharge of Rs.1 per bottle to sustain its welfare activities.

Highest consumption

Kerala has the highest per capita consumption of liquor in the country.

Johnson J. Edayaranmula, who heads the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, a non-profit organisation, says more than 20 lakh Keralites drink every day. Around 70 lakh others drink at least once in a month.

The age at which Keralites consume alcohol for the first time has fallen from 19 years in 1986 to 13 years in 2006.

Nearly, 14 per cent of the liquor drinking population in Kerala is below 21 years.

Kerala’s high suicide rate was also linked to its high alcohol consumption.

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

Kerala