The State Government assured the Assembly on Tuesday of implementing a special package for the rehabilitation of Dhoolpet residents in the City, who have been brought out of illicit liquor (gudumba) making profession. The package will be finalised by the Chief Minister in consultation with the City legislators after completion of the ongoing session.
During a short discussion on eradication of gudumba and rehabilitation measures in the State, Excise Minister T. Padma Rao stated that Telangana was 98% gudumba-free as brewing, transport and sale of illicit liquor was stopped and those involved in the activity were rehabilitated with about 5,638 of them given financial assistance of ₹158 crore at ₹2 lakh each for taking up self-employment activity of their choice.
On the MIM and BJP members charge that the Government was allowing functioning of liquor shops in the vicinity of places of worship and educational institutions citing technical reasons, the Minister explained that provisions in the existing law were made like that and if all parties come together the legislation could be amended appropriately. He noted that the distance of a liquor shop from a school, temple or mosque would be measured only technically taking into account even u-turns on roads.
Responding to the members’ concern over the increasing turnover from liquor sales in the State harming the health of people and dealing a blow to the economies of the poor and middle class families, the Minister said the Government could not do much when people were consuming more liquor.
Earlier, Kausar Moinuddin (AIMIM), T. Raja Singh and G. Kishan Reddy (BJP), R. Krishnaiah (TDP) and S. Rajaiah (CPI-M) requested the Government to implement prohibition at least in a phased manner since liquor was having an adverse effect on the health and finances of people. Mr. Raja Singh said though 820 individuals of Dhoolpet were identified for rehabilitation under G.O. 230 norms only 79 of them were given financial assistance.
Mr. Raja Singh said mere extending financial assistance for self-employment would not rehabilitate the illicit liquor brewers who were brought out of the profession and suggested that they should be provided employment by setting up industrial units in the five acres land available in Dhoolpet area.
Mr. Kishan Reddy stated that annual turnover from liquor sales was highest in Telangana in the country at about ₹40,000 crore. Two TRS members G. Sunitha Reddy and B. Shankar Naik also spoke as part of the short discussion.
