16 villages ban booze in R’sthan’s Bharatpur

BHARATPUR: Sixteen villages in Bharatpur district on Sunday enforced a self-imposed ban on consumption and sale of alcohol.

The decision was taken at a panchayat in Bayana led by activist Harigiri Baba. Nearly 1,000 villagers attended the panchayat.

The panchayat also decided to impose a penalty of ₹11,000 if anyone found drinking alcohol in these villages and ₹21,000 if anyone found selling alcohol.

Harigiri Baba is running antiliquor campaign in many districts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh.

Some of the villages are Mahloni, Kanwar, Umrain, Bhagoria, Naya Gaon, Tyohari, Nagla Mahloni and Nahchora.

Keshav Fauji from Tyohari said this unique initiative was adopted during a panchayat.

Chhabda Jankranti Manch’s head Puja Chhabda said consumption of alcohol was ruining development of the society.

Women in large number attended the panchayat where they decided to convince their kids to consume alcohol. They also decided to start protest against liquor shops located in their villages.

The same initiative was launched in Mewat region’s Kaithwada village on Saturday.

Defending the move, Kaithwada sarpanch Ishak Khan said youth have become habitual alcohol drinkers and assault their wives after getting drunk.