What is anti-liquor agigation? Speech
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The anti–liquor movement is finding no takers in the urban areas of the state, though a few villages in Satara and Kolhapur districts have successfully exercised the provision of an excise department act to shut some liquor shops.
Activists have cited the diversity of the urban population and its reluctance to get involved in politics as the main reasons behind the lack of response to the anti–liquor movement.
The easy availability of country liquor or the Indian Made Foreign Liquor at the rural level had caused social unrest in villages in the last decade. In some areas, agitation against liquor shops have turned violent, creating law and order problems.
It has prompted social activist to initiate anti–liquor movement at the village level, which was supported by women who are generally the victims of liquorrelated social problems.
According to a state government decision in June 2003, shops selling liquor in villages can be closed if 50 per cent of the women population vote for its closure. According to activists, such democratic ways of protest show the unity of the society and, at the same time, give youngsters a lesson in democracy.
In 2008, the government made the Bombay Prohibition (closure of licence on resolution by gram sabha or representation by voters in the ward of municipal council/ corporation) order, 2008 effective in urban areas also.
As per the order, at least 25 per cent women voters in a ward should submit their demand of banning liquor distribution in any form (shop, hotel, beer bar) to the concerned authority. After verifying the facts, the authority, with an approval from the district collector, conducts an election, where the people are asked to cast their vote. If more than 50 per cent vote against liquor distribution, the licence of the shop or enterprise is cancelled by the excise department.
Tanaji Salunkhe, deputy commissioner of the state excise department, told TOI: "The notification has asked the concerned authorities to complete the entire procedure within three months. The government wants to have a fair chance to both parties. The excise inspector is also allowed to attend the elections as a third–party observer."
Activists have cited the diversity of the urban population and its reluctance to get involved in politics as the main reasons behind the lack of response to the anti–liquor movement.
The easy availability of country liquor or the Indian Made Foreign Liquor at the rural level had caused social unrest in villages in the last decade. In some areas, agitation against liquor shops have turned violent, creating law and order problems.
It has prompted social activist to initiate anti–liquor movement at the village level, which was supported by women who are generally the victims of liquorrelated social problems.
According to a state government decision in June 2003, shops selling liquor in villages can be closed if 50 per cent of the women population vote for its closure. According to activists, such democratic ways of protest show the unity of the society and, at the same time, give youngsters a lesson in democracy.
In 2008, the government made the Bombay Prohibition (closure of licence on resolution by gram sabha or representation by voters in the ward of municipal council/ corporation) order, 2008 effective in urban areas also.
As per the order, at least 25 per cent women voters in a ward should submit their demand of banning liquor distribution in any form (shop, hotel, beer bar) to the concerned authority. After verifying the facts, the authority, with an approval from the district collector, conducts an election, where the people are asked to cast their vote. If more than 50 per cent vote against liquor distribution, the licence of the shop or enterprise is cancelled by the excise department.
Tanaji Salunkhe, deputy commissioner of the state excise department, told TOI: "The notification has asked the concerned authorities to complete the entire procedure within three months. The government wants to have a fair chance to both parties. The excise inspector is also allowed to attend the elections as a third–party observer."
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