Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120152990300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

A tribal village resolves to reform

Staff Reporter

It accounts for highest number of ID liquor cases

BHADRACHALAM: The denizens of Pichukalapadu, a village that gained notoriety for illicit brewing and timber smuggling, have pledged their support to an initiative aimed at building conscience, character and responsible citizenship. They agreed to mend their ways and fall in line to merit consideration for a bigger help offered by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) for development of facilities.

The village, perched closed to the inter-State border with Chhattisgarh, was raided by the excise officials for over 40 times so far this year and in all 39 persons were booked for illicit distillation. Some 40,000 litres of jiggery wash was destroyed, 1000 litres of country liquor sized. Besides half a dozen auto rickshaws some 30 bicycles were sized from the residents.

A team of officials led by the ITDA project officer, A. Sharat, which had a meeting with the residents in the day came to know that a majority of the families had been living on the earnings from illicit distillation. The village was way ahead of many tribal gram panchayats in the construction of Indiramma houses. It was one of the villages in the district recommended for Nirmal Purashkar.

At the same time it accounted for the highest number of ID related cases in Bhadrachalam division. Many of the families had their earning members addicted to liquor.

The forest officials had also been raiding the village quite often as it had been the source for clandestine supply of valuable timber.

The ITDA project officer has assured the village of special assistance for development of facilities provided all the families gave up the illicit brewing with a resolve to emerge as a liquor free village. A woman, Darawat Dwali, who was involved in three cases explained that she took to illicit distillation just to eke out a living ever since illicit liquor claimed the life of her husband.

A probationary DSP, Janaki Sharmila, who raided the village recently, said the residents should stop craving for easy money and reform themselves for the sake of their children. Otherwise, the reputation of the village would have its bearing on the fate of their children.