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Womens organisations oppose govt proposal
Women organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations are up in arms after the State government expressed its intention to reduce the liquor prices. They felt the government was encouraging liquor consumption rather than creating awareness amongst people against consumption of alcohol, which was one of the priorities of TRS government.
Cut in liquor prices
Hyderabad: Women organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations are up in arms after the State government expressed its intention to reduce the liquor prices. They felt the government was encouraging liquor consumption rather than creating awareness amongst people against consumption of alcohol, which was one of the priorities of TRS government.
A day after the Excise Minister, T Padma Rao, revealed the government’s intention to reduce prices of liquor to curb consumption of ID liquor and Gudumba, the women’s organisations led by All India Democratic Women’s Organisation (AIDWA) burnt the effigy of Minister at six different places across the State, including the city. They perceive that the government was aiming solely at increasing the revenue rather than discouraging people from consuming it.
The Telangana government generated Rs 7,721 crore as excise revenue between June 2, 2014 and February 28, 2015. However, the Minister, who was answering to a question in Legislative Council, lamented that the government could have generated more revenue. Even the Finance Minister, Eatala Rajender, minced no words in the Assembly that the government aims at generating revenue through excise.
Referring to the Minister’s recent statements, AIDWA State president B Hymavathi described it as ‘most shameful’. She held that the government clearly aims to target Rs 10,000 crore this financial year by increasing the sale of the liquor under the garb of controlling Gudumba.
According to her, 50 per cent of the alcoholics from middle class and lower strata in the State die prematurely affecting the families. “Nearly 40 to 50 lakh women in the State are living lonely life as head of the family has died or left them alone due to liquor addiction,” she points out.
Women representatives of Progressive Organisation of Women (POW), AIDWA and other social organisations held a meeting, where they have decided to launch a campaign against the government for encouraging consumption of liquor rather than controlling it.
Ch Madhu Babu of Prajaswamya Parirakshana Vedika (PPV) pointed out that the government clearly aimed to increase the revenue at the expense of the public health. The decision to reduce price of the liquor would not have any impact on number of persons consuming ID liquor or Gudumba in the rural areas, rather this would augment the consumption in the cities. “If the government is serious about curbing the ID liquor and Gudumba, it must completely close the belt shops, as they are first to compromise the quality any kind of liquor,” he felt.
By:Md Nizamuddin
