While walking to the neighbouring village in the fading sunlight and decreasing temperature, I came across two person happily sitting in the middle of the road happily chatting away. The cycle is parked a few feet away. As I came nearer, I could see that they were drinking merrily. A bottle of beer was kept at a reachable distance with few plastic glasses already littered. I was forced to stop for a while beside them to look at if they would know me or I would know them. Were they tribes or non-tribes? Why were they drinking like this? I was curious. They were quite embarrassed but not sorry for what they were doing without remorse. They were two tribal youths from a near by village. They said that after a hard-day's work as masons, they would need some relaxation. Middle of the road and the silence of the dusk were the most befitting location - more than the privacy of the home or the inquisitive eyes of the fellow villagers. I was angry though knowing fully well that I have no moral authority to ask questions about their seeking pleasure and the decision to spend day's income on a bottle of a liquor.I shouted at them and advised them to go home before they were fully drunk. They admitted their mistakes and promised me not repeat this again though I knew that I won't be surprised to see them at the same spot next evening. These two youths are not alone as the tribal youths of this generation are more addicted than ever! But who is to blame?
Many questions came to my mind about the Excise Policy of the Government and the response of the tribals. While it has been accepted that drinking is part of the tribal customs and cultural manifestations, right to brew liquor is no longer is legal. The liquor market has a deep penetration into the tribal hinter land with various types of products like country liquor in pouches, spurious liquor in plastic bags, Indian-made Foreign Liquor in coloured bottles and many kinds brands. The Government is planning incessantly how to raise the revenues with liberal liquor licensing. There is not an iota of doubt in the minds of our legislatures and policy-makers whether promotion of liquor is a boon or bane in the tribal areas.
How anti-liquor campaign is going through ups and downs is a matter of history. In the thick of Gandhian movements in the post-Independence period, many eminent leaders have launched anti-liquor campaigns and have sadly lost and have already gone to the grave. In the early 90s, late Biju Patnaik yielded to the demands of the tribal women leaders and enforced prohibition. Late Biju Patnaik was a true Statesman who could measure the pulses of the tribals and was unique. Same thing can not be said of the next generation of the politicians including his son. Undoubtedly , the current liquor policy of the tribals is anti-tribal as it does not allow them to brew their own liquor. The Maoists are currently against this policy but what is significant is that the tribal women who are struggling for their lives and livelihoods are spearing the anti-liquor campaigns all over.
The Liquor Policy needs a wide debate and it is time that the government wakes up to the reality. The Liquor has been one of the causes of tribal underdevelopment and poverty. the debt-trap is easy from which the tribals seldom get out. The domestic violence in the tribal household is wide-spread. What is needed at the moment is a moral persuasion and a sensitive policy framework in favour of prohibition.
Many questions came to my mind about the Excise Policy of the Government and the response of the tribals. While it has been accepted that drinking is part of the tribal customs and cultural manifestations, right to brew liquor is no longer is legal. The liquor market has a deep penetration into the tribal hinter land with various types of products like country liquor in pouches, spurious liquor in plastic bags, Indian-made Foreign Liquor in coloured bottles and many kinds brands. The Government is planning incessantly how to raise the revenues with liberal liquor licensing. There is not an iota of doubt in the minds of our legislatures and policy-makers whether promotion of liquor is a boon or bane in the tribal areas.
How anti-liquor campaign is going through ups and downs is a matter of history. In the thick of Gandhian movements in the post-Independence period, many eminent leaders have launched anti-liquor campaigns and have sadly lost and have already gone to the grave. In the early 90s, late Biju Patnaik yielded to the demands of the tribal women leaders and enforced prohibition. Late Biju Patnaik was a true Statesman who could measure the pulses of the tribals and was unique. Same thing can not be said of the next generation of the politicians including his son. Undoubtedly , the current liquor policy of the tribals is anti-tribal as it does not allow them to brew their own liquor. The Maoists are currently against this policy but what is significant is that the tribal women who are struggling for their lives and livelihoods are spearing the anti-liquor campaigns all over.
The Liquor Policy needs a wide debate and it is time that the government wakes up to the reality. The Liquor has been one of the causes of tribal underdevelopment and poverty. the debt-trap is easy from which the tribals seldom get out. The domestic violence in the tribal household is wide-spread. What is needed at the moment is a moral persuasion and a sensitive policy framework in favour of prohibition.
Bhai , Namaskar .Getting intoxicated was the need . Hence without any other thing / activity / engagement to get intoxicated with in a better way , they might have preferred to consider Liquor as the best medium . Once anyone gets the Nassa of work or some other positive activity , may be that he would distance himself from Liquor .However it was nice to learn your serious concern and counseling.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Santakar. Let us not romanticise the liquor consumption. Let the tribals drink as much as they want during their festivals and other cultural events but why everyday? They are already facing the harshest life due to food and livelihood insecurities/ Why aggravate more? We should have a constant dialogue with these communities on the utility of liquor consumption.
DeleteLet me be honest that I'm a teetotaler but would support anyone who is fond of hard liquor, more so when it's an adivasi who has cultural approval for it. Crucial issue is that why the state makes him/her buy it when it can be locally brewed? Give them the freedom to brew it and the consumption will most likely, over time, come within reasonable limits! But if government's idea is to allow monopolization of liquor production (by none other than the likes of Vijay Mallaya) at the cost of decentralized production, not only will it persist as a taboo but anti-liquor campaigners (which i'd call mere entertainment of sorts) will continue to fail. Let 'liquor monopolisation' be grounded and leave the rest to the society to sort it out!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sudhirendar. I know the best solution is to leave it to the society to sort it out but remember Jadu Bansa ( clan ) was destroyed by Soma Rasa. There has to be some moral control on liquor consumption.
ReplyDeleteI suspect if any society had ever vanquished on account of liquor. Even if 'soma rasa' ever took its toll, it may have been 'best' for that 'society'. After all, evolution is for the 'fittest'.
ReplyDelete