Hundreds of people from villages and tandas in Kalaburagi district launched an anti-alcohol drive here on Tuesday.
Members of the liquor ban drive, led by Banjara Mahila Credit Co-operative Society Limited, took out a protest march from Jagat Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum demanding total ban on sale and consumption of liquor in villages and tandas.
Sharada B. Yakapur, president of the Banjara Mahila Co-operative Society, in the memorandum to the district administration, stated that illicit liquor was easily available in most of the villages in the district.
Consumption of illicit liquor not only affected socio-economic life of families but also hindered the progress of society.
There are at least seven or eight illegal liquor outlets in each village and alcohol was found even in general stores, she said.
Indebtedness has increased and people have been victims of alcoholism. Farmer suicides and frequent deaths were reported in the villages due to consumption of illicit liquor, she said.
The protesters have set a December-end deadline for a total ban on sale of illicit liquor in the district.
