Giridih women demand prohibition in Jharkhand

P Mishra

Giridih: Inpired by their Bihar counterparts, women in Giridih in Jharkhand have swung into action to ensure total prohibition in the state. They are also demanding similar laws to stop use of alcohol in any form in the state.

The Jharkhand women too are planning to mount pressure on Chief Minister, Raghubar Das and the BJP to follow his neighbouring state by enforcing prohibition to save money and mind of Jharkhand youth. “We want the chief minister to come forward and make similar laws to prohibit the use of alcohol. Frequent sale and purchase of wine and brewing of countrymade liquors have really ruined the lives of thousands of people with the  rural women and children being  the worst affected,” said Pramila Mehra, a Zila Parishad member, from Sheetalpur, who led a group of more than a hundred protestors at Baniyadih locality under Giridih muffasil areas on Tuesday to demand prohibition.

“As per the decision taken by the women group in presence of several intellectuals, we have fixed penalty for those found involved in the trade. While a sum of Rs 10,000 has been fixed as penalty for the traders, we have fixed a fine of Rs 5,000 on those found purchasing liquor,” Mehra said.  Similar rallies were also taken out in the remote areas of Bagodar, Sariya, Dumri, Bengabad, Rajdhanwar and other blocks of Giridih district.

Apart from shouting against the boozers, the school kids in the rural pockets have also appealed their drunkard father ,other family members and neighbours to support their movement.

“We cannot comment much on it as this is purely a social movement against the government’s policy. But what we can do is that we can stop illegal sale and purchase of wine, brewing and boozing of country made liquors and other such activities that may create trouble in the society,” said the Deputy Commissioner Umashankar Singh, adding the government authorities had so far succeeded in their agenda.

“ Liquor has really destroyed the lives of hundreds of youths and many families, especially in our localities where more than 60% population earn their livelihood through hard worek. We will surely take up this issue with the chief minister and will appeal him to act accordingly,” said  Bagodar BJP MLA Nagendra Mahto, who along with his supporters also participated in various such rallies against the boozers.

“The government must must stop the sale and purchase of liquor in Jharkhand,”, said former Bagodar MLA and CPI (ML) leader Binod Kumar Singh.