Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101568630500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Nallela villagers vow to stop sale of ID liquor

Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao

‘Gudumba’ menace rampant in villages of Mahabubabad in Warangal district

NO TO LIQUOR: Lok Satta leaders destroying a pot used for brewing liquor at Nallella village in Mahabubabad mandal of Warangal district.

MAHABUBABAD (WARANGAL DT.): The villagers of Nallella are a grief-stricken lot. For recently one of their villagers Ubbani Veeranna (32) killed his brother Ramulu (36) and his mother Muthamma (50) when they refused to give him money for ‘gudumba’ (illicitly distilled liquor).

With the killing of Ramulu by his alcoholic brother Veeranna, his two children and wife were orphaned. Subsequently, Veeranna was arrested by the police. The incident has shattered the family.

On Saturday, a group of Lok Satta leaders led by district convener Parcha Kodandarama Rao visited the village. The villagers were told how their silence in allowing free flow of liquor was prompting youth to get addicted to it. “The youth and able-bodied men are addicted to liquor and are consequently hospitalised. The family gets into deep debts to meet the medical expenditure,” Mr. Rao explained.

The ‘gudumba’ menace is rampant in the villages of Mahabubabad mandal affecting several families. The mandal has also been witnessing an increase in number of liquor-related deaths that too of young men. Mr. Rao asked the villagers to fight against ‘gudumba’ and belt shops in Nallella. “You cannot ask anyone to control this. You have to fight on your own. Do not sell your vote for a few rupees. Instead retain the power to question the authorities,” he told them.

Panel formed

The Lok Satta Party also constituted an ‘Anti-Gudumba Committee’ involving youth and members of self-help groups (SHGs).

They took a pledge not to allow sale or consumption of ‘gudumba’ in their village henceforth.