t started as part of a ritual among tribal communities –brewing of liquor. But gradually it grew into an addiction. As demand rose, unscrupulous elements began to mix all kinds of fatal substances to hasten the process of brewing.
The deadly cocktail has cost many lives leaving a trail of widows burdened with children to fend for themselves. Many tribal people addicted to the adulterated brew die a premature death. “There are at least 30 per cent widows in each hamlet in this division. The average age of a person dying due to consumption of Illicitly Distilled (ID) liquor is 30 years. By that time, he is already married and has children,” says Prof. Battu Ramesh of The School of Folk & Tribal Lore and Dean, Telugu University, who has done an extensive study of the ‘Gudumba’ menace.
Brewing arrack from Bassia latifolia flowers (ippa puvvu) is part of the tribal culture. Over the years, tribal people have taken to shortcuts, brewing liquor in a crude way using black jaggery and alum. Usually, black jaggery and alum should be kept aside a week to get fermented. But to hasten the process, the brew makers use footwear, sacks, cow dung, used battery cells and much more that impacts the body within short time.
A section of tribals thrive on brewing and selling ID liquor. It is a money spinner not only for the tribals, but to the jaggery traders as well. Despite raids by Excise officials at ID liquor dens in hamlets, the traders encourage the tribals to keep their business afloat.
Bhanoth Saritha of Kummarikunta thanda told The Hindu that there were about 60 houses in the hamlet and 40 widows. “About ten families brew gudumba here. Even those who lose their breadwinner get into the trade as they have nothing else to survive. If these women are shown some employment, they will stop brewing gudumba,” she pointed out.
The Babunaik thanda that is close to Mahabubabad town has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of widows. Islavath Dasru, an employee at the local agricultural market said over 100 men died in their hamlet during the last ten years just due to gudumba consumption. Bhadavath Saroja of this thanda says since the hamlet was merged into Mahabubabad municipality, the officials cancelled MNREG scheme. The hapless women are forced to fend for themselves. “Not just gudumba, they should stop all kinds of liquor – beer and brandy. If they stop gudumba, our men will spend all their day’s earnings on brandy,” she said wiping her eyes.
When asked, district Collector Vakati Karuna said they have launched a joint effort involving Excise, Police and Revenue to make as many hamlets as possible gudumba free by October 2. “No doubt it is a big challenge. But we are trying,” she said adding that they could make 98 hamelts free of gudumba so far, of the total 400 approximately.
The average age of a person dying due to consumption of ID liquor is 30 years. By that time, he is already married and has children,
Prof. Battu Ramesh,
The School of Folk & Tribal Lore
