TS Govt vows to eradicate Gudamba from Telangana

Hyderabad : Announcing that almost 98% of Telangana State was free from manufacture, transport and sale of illicit Distilled Liquor/Gudumba, Prohibition and Exchise Minister T. Padma Rao Goud vowed that the State Government would completely eradicate this menace from the State.

Making a statement during a short discussion on 'Eradication of Gudumba and Rehabilitation Measures' in the State in Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the minister informed that following an announcement made by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in a public meeting in Warangal on eradicating Gudamba, a major initiative was launched.

"The war on illicit liquor was not fought by the Excise Department alone. It was not an enforcement activity, but as a social campaign in a holistic way to eradicate this menace from its root. A multi-disciplinary coordination approach was made by involving officials from Revenue, Police, Excise and developmental machinery. The war against Gudumba was launched on September 1, 2015," he said.

Padma Rao said awareness meetings were held to educate the villagers about the ill-effects of Gudamba. He said since September 2015, as many as 89 persons have been booked under PD Act and others were also booked under other sections of Cr PC. He said black jaggery, which is the main ingredient for manufacturing of Gudumba, has been subjected to control.

The minister said alternate livelihood was provided to the families who had indulged in Gudumba manufacture or sale by sanctioning Rs. 2 lakh per family as subsidy with no loan component. He said as on October 28 this year, a total of 5,638 schemes have been sanctioned and 5039 have been grounded with a budget of Rs. 112 crore. Of 5039 beneficiaries covered under Gudumba Rehabilitation scheme, 2795 took up Animal Husbandry, 1033 Kirana and General Stores, 107 Ladies Emporium, clothes, stores, 319 automobiles, 44 food stalls/hotels, 191 Tent house, 10 electrical goods and 540 opted for other petty businesses.

Later, replying to the discussion, the minister further informed that several families in Dhoolpet were also rehabilitated under the scheme. He said efforts were on to establish an industry on 15-acres of open government land in the area and the Chief Minister will be consulted about it soon.

He also assured that the government would take a serious note on the suggestions and objections made by the MLAs of different parties.