More than 100 members of the women’s wing of the Tamil Nadu construction workers association, affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) courted arrest at the district headquarters here and Sivaganga on Tuesday after they took out a march to lock up the TASMAC shops, selling liquor in the two districts.
Led by Women’s wing office bearers K Nagalakshmi and M Gowri, 35 women and 11 men took out a march from Aranmanai when a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police R Annamalai Azhawar arrested them.
Those detained included two children, carried by the women volunteers, police said.
Sivaganga
In Sivaganga, led by Association district secretary Sivasamy and office bearers Selvi and Suseela, about 60 people, including 51 women were arrested when they marched from the bus stand to the nearby TASMAC shop, police said. All the arrested in the two districts were released in the evening, police added.
Communist Party of India (CPI) district secretary N K Rajan addressing the agitators here said the construction workers were badly affected by the sale of liquor in the State as most of them spent a major portion of their earnings on liquor after a day’s work.
After liquor was made freely available in the State, there has been spurt in accidents and sexual violence, he said adding there has also been substantial increase in the number of widows.
The consumption of liquor has led to societal degradation and posed serious health hazards, he said and urged the government to imposed prohibition at least in a phased manner.
