Social activist Medha Patkar has urged the BJP government at the Centre to make India a liquor-free nation and called for a stringent law to ensure de-addiction.
Addressing a Women Empowerment Conference organised by Mahila Janajagruti Andolana Samiti at Aland town in Kalaburagi district on Saturday, Ms. Patkar lauded the contributions of women to bringing in revolutionary changes in society. She said that “any revolution is incomplete without women empowerment”.
Ms. Patkar’s visit to Aland town is part of her national campaign for a liquor-free India. In her 30-minute speech referring to the ideologies of social reformers of different periods, she described how reform movements have brought about remarkable changes in society through the ages.
Praising Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for making the State liquor-free, Ms. Patkar urged the Union government to ban sale of alcohol across the country and appealed to all State governments to support the Madya Nishedha Andolana campaign by declaring a ban on sale of liquor.
She urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to stop depending on liquor tax to run the government. Opposing the justification that the government was not ready to forgo the ₹ 16,000 crore revenue generated for the Exchequer through the sale of liquor, Ms. Patkar said that the government should look for alternatives to generate revenue.
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move, Ms. Patkar said that it had failed to check black money. She alleged that demonetisation was a favour done to specific industrialists; but the poor farmers, labour and the common man are the ultimate sufferers.
The objective of the Madya Nishedha Andolana campaign should reach every nook and corner of urban areas, village, and tribal hamlets, reiterating the need for Prohibition in all States, she said.
Aland MLA B.R. Patil urged villagers to spearhead a campaign to create awareness on the need for eradication of open defecation, launch another awareness drive on constructing individual toilets through incentives and other programmes meant for women empowerment.
