Braving the scorching sun, female anti-liquor activists formed human chains to create awareness against the use of liquor during election campaign in 12 panchayats of Daringbadi block under Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday.
For the last three decades, women from this area are continuing their crusade against liquor menace under the banner of ‘Nari Mahasangh’. On Thursday, they chose the major roads of their respective panchayats for their peaceful demonstration. Their aim was to make the local residents and political campaign vehicles notice their unity and conviction. Sporting placards against liquor sale and consumption, they stood silently, hand in hand, from 10 a.m. till noon.
According to Nari Mahasangh activists, similar human chains will be formed in the remaining 13 panchayats in their block in a phased manner. “The women who participated in the human chains were farmers and daily wagers who are the worst sufferers of liquor addiction of men in their families,” said Nabati Mantri, president of Nari Mahasangh.
‘Land rights for women’
“We are also demanding a complete ban on intoxicants in Kandhamal and Odisha as well as land rights to the landless, especially destitute women of our area,” said Ms. Mantri. According to her, the political parties seeking votes should give a written promise that after they are elected they will make efforts to fulfil their demands.
Their organisation has decided to ask women in their area not to vote for parties which use liquor to woo voters during the elections. They have also started collecting written promise on stamp papers regarding their demands from political activists who visit their panchayats to campaign.
