Andhra Pradesh

Rally demanding closure of belt shops

VISAKHAPATNAM: Hundreds of women took out a rally in the city on Tuesday to protest against issuing licenses to wine shops indiscriminately and to demand closure of belt shops.

The rally, organised by Chaitanya Sravanthi, a voluntary social organisation for women, commenced from Durgalamma gudi near Poorna Market and via Jagadamba Junction reached the Collectorate highlighting the evils of alcohol.

At the Collectorate, a memorandum was submitted by its president Shirin Rahman and others to the Collector expressing concern over issue of licenses to wine shops and bars by the State Government which looked only at the revenue flow and not the dangers portended. The process of calling tenders to open wine shops on a large scale was ready to commence again and it was a pity that the rulers who boast of women’s empowerment and their economic independence failed to notice the free flow of liquor that ruined their families, she stated.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu