Even as the cash-strapped government is eyeing mop up a revenue of Rs. 12,258 crore in the new excise year beginning July 2015, women’s organisation in Prakasam district on Friday pitched for change in the existing policy to address their concerns over the increasing cases of people falling prey to liquor addiction, leading to troubles in families.
The government must come out with a policy, giving a go-by to the practice of auctioning of liquor shops to private players, who go all out to maximise profit with least concern for public health. It is the responsibility of the government to set up rehabilitation centres for the addicts in every district, opined CPI district Secretary K.Aruna, who had led several agitations in support of the women affected by liquor menace in the district.
The government should take over all retail liquor shops and allow their functioning between 9 am and 5 pm, National Federation of Indian Women district President S.Ravamma suggested.
Expressing concern over the impact of liquor on health at large, All India Democratic Women's Association city general secretary K. Ramadevi said improvement of public health should be the cornerstone of the new excise policy.
AP Mahila Abhudhaya Samiti president T.Aruna, who had provided inputs for improvement of the excise policy wanted the government to end the practice of auctioning of liquor shops to private players, said that liquor consumption in public must be discouraged and liquor shops on the NH should not be allowed.
Referring to the death owing to liquor addiction, Lok Satta district general secretary Ch. Ratnakumari said that at least 30 per cent of those drawing widow pensions in the State were those who had lost their husbands to liquor.
Auctioning of liquor shops to private players be given a go-by: women’s organisations
Rehabilitation centres sought in every district to wean people away from liquor
