Date:24/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/24/stories/2005062410970500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Movement against ID liquor takes off

Staff Reporter

Womenfolk take to educating their men Womenfolk in two villages take to educating their men on the ill effects of liquor consumption

KARIMNAGAR: A fresh anti-arrack movement has begun in the interior Konaraopeta mandal in the district.

The movement which started from Dharmaram village a week ago, is spreading to other villages of this mandal with womenfolk educating their men about the ill effects of consuming ID liquor.

First it was the womenfolk who waged a war against the arrack albeit illicitly distilled (ID) liquor in Dharmaram and Nizamabad villages of Konaraopeta mandal by destroying ID liquor dens and liquor.

Inspired by the campaign in these two villages, the village elders, along with the womenfolk, have decided to impose a fine of Rs. 10,000 anyone if he consumes ID liquor in the village or other villages.

Youngsters of Malkapet village of the same mandal have also participated in the mission to ensure that their village is free of ID liquor.

The village youth with the help of police raided the houses where arrack was being sold and destroyed 1,000 litres of liquor in front of the villagers on Wednesday night.

The youth vowed to intensify the campaign by motivating other villagers and destroy all ID liquor making units and sale outlets with the support of police and excise officials.

Excise staff chip in

Taking advantage of the situation, the district Prohibition and Excise Department authorities have been visiting the villages where there is a ban on sale and consumption of ID liquor and motivating them to intensify the campaign.

With the help of villagers, they have decided to launch a special drive against all the ID liquor dens.

They have also decided to spread the campaign in other villages by distributing posters and pamphlets to educate people on ill effects of consuming ID liquor.

The Excise Superintendent, B. Balaji Prasad, told The Hindu here on Thursday that they would constitute village-level anti-arrack committees to spread the campaign. He also said that they were planning to provide some incentives to the villages which completely ban the sale and consumption of ID liquor.