Rural women working for the anti–liquor movement have come out with the manifesto in which they have vowed to defeat candidates and parties that distribute free liquor to win votes in these Lok Sabha elections.
“It is election time and we are on guard. After struggling for three years we managed to close one licensed liquor shop and a few illicit liquor dens in the village. Our women keep a vigil so that liquor from other villages doesn’t come here. But now with elections round the corner, we will also be guarding village borders,” said Lata Latke sarpanch (village head) of tiny Kole village in Satara district.
Like Kole, the Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal (DMVM) – a Satara–based organisation formed and run by women – has used legal provisions, like voting against liquor shops in Gram Sabha and raiding illicit liquor dens in South Maharashtra.
“In the last few years, we have managed to make 45 villages in Satara and Kolhapur liquor–free. Women conducted about 187 raids across the region to pull down illegal liquor dens. The movement is spreading fast as women have to bear the brunt of men’s drinking habits,” said Shaila Jadhav, DMVM activist.
DMVM has come up with a manifesto stating that any politician or political party which distributes free liquor to win votes will not be allowed to enter villages and all women will collectively vote against such parties and candidates.
Ramnath, who produces country liquor in Morewadi area of Kolhapur, said, “Demand for country liquor goes up by 70–80 per cent during elections. On an average day we sell 10–15 cans, now we are selling about 80 cans of liquor a day.”
“Liquor comes from sugar mill distilleries in this belt. The anti–liquor movement is now a political movement. We are making efforts to establish a consolidated vote bank of women that will play a decisive role,” said Varsha Deshpande of DMVM. Following in the footsteps of DMVM, other organisations and self–help groups have also started antiliquor movements in different places, she added. About 750 self–help groups in the region actively participate in the movement.
“Men beat up women and children and even sell clothes and utensils to buy liquor. Recently, our community lost two youths who died after drinking country liquor,” said Baidabai Madne, a woman from Ramoshi community of Disakal village in Satara.
However, Nagesh Jadhav, a beer bar owner in Wathar village, is of the firm belief that closing liquor shops is not the solution to these women’s problems.
“We don’t have a problem with closing our shops, but it will not stop people from drinking. Once licensed shops are closed, illicit country liquor, which is hazardous to health, will start flowing,” he said.
Politicians, however, are not affected by the development. “We are not forcing people to drink. It is their choice. We are concerned about votes,” said one of the leaders in Satara who requested anonymity.
However, the women have got support from an unexpected quarter. Satara superintendent of police Prakash Mutyal said, “I congratulate women in Satara for initiating steps to curb liquor distribution during elections. To support them we have banned entry of vehicles carrying liquor and have started raiding ‘Dhabas’ and hotels where free liquor is distributed. Police squads with video cameras are moving around in the district and I appeal to the women to contact the police if they need help. If the local police fail to co–operate, they should approach me directly.”
“The movement has changed our life. We have warned men against drinking. When some of them still drink, we teach them a lesson,” says Rakhma Bodare.
The “Method” has worked in remote villages like Diskal in Satara, where men from the Ramoshi community, who would produce country liquor, have now stopped their business and drinking as well.
“Men who have quit drinking have formed savings groups and have even joined the movement,” says Shaila Jadhav.
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Source: Times of India
