Break-ups, disharmony & conflicts among families on rise

Hanumakonda: People in rural areas of the undivided Warangal district say that minor disputes are turning into major conflicts if it involves persons under the influence of alcohol. They are expressing anguish that family disputes, land disputes, and personal rivalries are becoming more and more violent and serious if it involves persons under the influence of alcohol.

In some cases, disputes escalate to the extent of fatal assaults and premeditated murders. Alcohol addiction is also causing rifts in families. As the husband’s earnings are being spent entirely on alcohol, the wife and children are facing financial difficulties. It is being said that problems such as borrowing money for alcohol, selling assets to repay debts, disputes between husbands and wives, and increasing domestic violence are arising, and that mainly due to alcohol addiction among male members, families are breaking apart, women are being forced to live alone - some after divorce or due to death of husband at a young age.

Children’s education is being discontinued midway due to alcohol-related problems, and the future of families is being affected, say representatives of women’s organisations. They demand the government to conduct a comprehensive probe into the functioning of belt shops and shut them down immediately.

There are also demands that the government should disclose number of belt shops old Warangal district which was divided to six districts. It should disclose these details district-wise, mandal-wise, and Excise station-wise. Details of cases registered, arrests made, and liquor seized in connection with belt shops and illegal liquor sales during the last three years should be released district-wise, and the number of people convicted in cases registered for illegal liquor sales, as well as the cases under investigation, should be made public.

Families torn apart by alcoholism of earning members say in unison that the government must conduct a special investigation into the network behind belt shops, illegal liquor supply routes, and collections of illegal deposits and illegal monthly payments.

The Police and Excise departments should work together to conduct village-level inspections and curb unauthorised liquor sales. It is the government’s responsibility to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all allegations regarding the belt shop system and to present the facts to the public.

What people say

Belt shops should be dealt with an iron hand

Belt shops that are contributing to crimes and anti-social activities should be dealt with an iron hand. Belt shops, available 24 hours a day at every grocery shop and pan shop, are contributing to rising crime. While wine shops close at 10 pm, belt shops remain open until dawn. These illegal liquor outlets are operating under the patronage of the Excise Department, local police, and wine shops.

At night, troublemakers, under the influence of alcohol, are engaging in quarrels and assaults. The expansion of belt shops has increased after the Congress government came to power. Belt shops are responsible for many murders that have taken place in the joint Warangal district. At least now, the Excise and Prohibition Department, the District Collector, the Warangal Police Commissioner, and the state government should respond and shut down the belt shops immediately

— Panuganti Sridhar, president, Goldsmiths’ Association, Hanamkonda District

Women are unable to go out due to troublemakers

Due to the belt shops that have spread everywhere, women and general public are living in fear. They are unable to come out of their homes because of the indecent behaviour of troublemakers under the influence of alcohol. There are 10 to 15 belt shops in each village and two to three in each thanda.

Mostly, daily-wage labourers and agricultural farmers who have worked throughout the day are purchasing liquor at belt shops, and 90 per cent of the money they earn is being spent on alcohol. As they become addicted to alcohol, family disputes are escalating. People are falling ill and losing their lives due to consumption of cheap liquor. The government should respond immediately and shut down the belt shops.

-Gudur Sampath, tailor, Nallabelli village, Wardhannapet mandal, Warangal district

Excise officials patronise belt shops

Belt shops are operating under the patronage of the Excise and wine shops. At least 15 to 20 belt shops are operating in villages like Neerukulla, Penchalpet and Keshavapur. Previously, labourers and farmers who had worked throughout the day would drink toddy and return home. That situation no longer exists. Everyone is consuming liquor, becoming indebted, and losing their assets.

Quarrels with wives under the influence of alcohol are escalating to the point of divorce. By consuming liquor sold by belt shops day and night, people are becoming addicted, falling ill, and losing their lives. As a result, women are losing their husbands at a young age and are being forced to lead lonely lives. It is the responsibility of the rulers to immediately shut down these belt shops that are causing so much harm and protect the health of the poor, common people and middle-class families.

-Mohammed Rafi, grocery shop owner, Neerukulla village, Atmakur mandal, Hanamkonda district

Belt shops destroying families

As belt shops are available everywhere, every head of the household who works throughout the day is consuming alcohol and becoming addicted, resulting in families breaking apart. Women are becoming widows at a young age due to belt shops that have expanded by targeting poor people. Once, there were gudumba shops, but the government is encouraging belt shops in their place.

The Excise and Police Departments, which ought to curb them, are intoxicated by monthly collections. As people are becoming addicted to alcohol, falling ill, and dying; the number of men who earn responsibly in every village is decreasing. The government has the responsibility to shut down the belt shops that are exploiting people, protect the dignity and lives of women, and prevent families from breaking apart

-Rafeeqa Begum, President, Ekashila Women’s Association, Pembarthi village, Jangaon district

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sadanandam Sirimalle

Sadanandam Sirimalle