Kalahandi tribals to sensitise people against liquor consumption

Bhawanipatna: Tribals in Kalahandi’s Pahadpadar panchayat under the Lanjigarh block have vowed to sensitise people of 16 villages to the health hazards and ill effects of consuming alcohol.
It has often been the reason behind early deaths, murders and family fights.
“The government will never agree to shut down liquor business because of the revenue generated from it.We are trying to sensitise people by telling them about the repercussion of liquor consumption,” said British Kumar, who is leading the movement under the banner of Khandualmali Mahila Samiti.
Banalata Majhi, a resident of Bengaon village, who is part of the movement said the country-made liquor units need to be shut down as many unemployed youths and aged are getting addicted to liquor.
She alleged that tribals in hilly areas prepare liquor at home and use it both for personal consumption as well as sell it. They collect mahua, banana, jaggery and sugar and soak it in water for three to four days and then boil this liquid inside the deep forests to make liquor. The steam of this liquid is collected and it is called “dhara mada” or alcohol, she added. “Tribals use traditional methods to prepare liquor and for that reason the alcohol is highly concentrated,” said Sushil Kumar of Lanjigarh.
Former vice-chairman of Lanjigarh block Jagdish Benia said the number of men is dwindling as they consume this highly concentrated forms of liquor over long periods of time and die. “Many women become widows at an early age,” said Benia.
Satya Mahar, the convenor of Niyamigiri Surakhya Samiti, alleged that government is not bothered about the deaths and is only eyeing the revenue generated from liquor. “The government has no record of how many people died due to consumption of alcohol in the last five years,” he said.
Former sarpanch of Pahadpadar Krushna Majhi said alcohol needs to be banned in tribal pockets. “,Tribals who are illiterate start consuming liquor since morning and suffer from liver and kidney-related diseases,” he added.
In these areas, women work as daily labourers to keep the hearth burning at home. They are also beaten up if they do not hand over the money to their drunkard husbands. “The men beat their wives and children after consuming alcohol. Incidents of murders by alcoholics have also taken place,” Lalita Majhi, a tribal, told the media.
Excise superintendent of Kalahandi Dambrudhar Khanda said raids are conducted on illegal liquor sale in the interior pockets and accordingly cases are registered and arrests have been made. But locals continue with their business after being released from jail, he said.