The indefinite agitation launched by a group of tribal women under the aegis of the Adivasi Forum demanding the closure of a Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) liquor shop at Mananthavady entered its 66th day on Friday.
Though the Adivasi Forum, along with the local people and Kerala Madyanirodhana Samithi (KMS), had appealed to the Chief Minister, Excise Minister, Tribal Welfare Minister, District Collector and the Deputy Excise Commissioner in Wayanad against the outlet in 2015, the authorities are yet to take any step to shut down the outlet, K.K. Mujeeb Rahman, a State coordinator of the KMS, said.
“There are 10 settlements of Adiya and Paniya tribal people in the vicinity of the outlet and nearly 95 per cent of the tribal men of the hamlets are addicted to liquor,” said Vella, a tribal woman of the Payyampalli Adiya hamlet and leader of the agitation.
“Two days ago, a 40-year-old man died in our hamlet owing to alcoholism. The life span of our men is reduced to 45-50 years from 75-80 years. Because of their drinking habit, children in their families drop out of schools,” she said.
Kakka, a 70-year-old tribal woman of Veettichal Paniya hamlet, who is participating in the agitation, said her only son had been addicted to alcohol for the past 15 years and closure of the outlet would help him quit the habit.
“If the government continues to be apathetic, we will stage a hunger strike in front of the official residence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,” Vella said.
Many social activists had visited and expressed solidarity with the agitators. Social activist Daya Bai would visit them on April 11, she added.
