Women demand closure of liquor shops in Bhim tehsil
Women in Bhim tehsil of Rajsamand district have launched an agitation to close down liquor shops in six more village panchayats.
Last year, Kachhabli under Bhim tehsil became the first village panchayat in the state to close down the lone liquor shop in the village following a referendum. The referendum, which was followed by an agitation by the locals, witnessed 67.11% people voting for ‘no alcohol sale’ in the village panchayat.
According to the state excise rules, if more than 50% people of a village panchayat do not want liquor sale in their area, the excise department will not allow a liquor shop in the village.
On Friday, Bhim tehsil women gathered in large numbers and took out a rally to demand ‘no alcohol sale’ in six villages under the tehsil. They also submitted a memorandum to the sub-divisional officer regarding this.
Shankar Singh of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, an organisation supporting the women’s agitation, said that the women have given Jaipur administration time till March 29 to take action in the matter, failing which they would intensify their agitation.
The women activists said that consumption of liquor in the six villages has created a lot of socioeconomic problems. “Many men and youngsters in these villages have been rendered jobless due to their drinking habit. They have also forgotten their family responsibilities,” Singh said, adding that their drinking habit was also adding to the number of accidents, clashes and thefts. “Men were snatching money from women earning from the MNREGS,” Singh said.
The association has submitted women’s applications to the district collector and demanded that the administration should conduct a voting to close down liquor shops in all the six gram panchayats. In addition, the administration should also shut all the illegal liquor shops in the Bhim tehsil.
However, Rajsamand collector Archana Singh said that it will not be possible to conduct a vote on the issue before March 31, as it requires a “proper procedure”.
“The applications for the closure of liquor shops were submitted late. As per the (excise) norms, it has to be verified that 20% voters have signed on the application and then it will be forwarded to the excise department. After this, the department allows voting, which will take place after a notice period of 15 days,” she said.