The maiden liquor policy of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government will be announced before June 30, Excise and Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan told the Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to the demands for grants in the 2017-18 Budget for Excise, Labour, and Labour Welfare, the Minister said the government had acted as per a Supreme Court order on closure of liquor vends. The closed vends were being reopened on the basis of court orders. The government is of the view that the closure of liquor shops will not lead to reduction in liquor consumption.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said the people should cooperate with the Vimukthi programme, launched by the Excise Department, aimed at creating awareness of alcohol and drug abuse.
The Minister said the government was contemplating a legislation to set up a toddy board to protect the toddy industry. The board would be a solution to the lack of workers to produce good quality toddy to the host of issues facing the industry. The trade unions in the sector had also raised such a demand.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said the government would launch a comprehensive insurance scheme for migrant workers, to be launched in June. They would get free treatment up to ₹15,000 and insurance cover of ₹2 lakh.
The minimum wages in the 19 labour zones had been revised and the pensi
