30 August 2010
Bhagyashree Kulthe
Activist Abhay Bang says politicians in Maharashtra are encouraging production of alcohol from foodgrain to earn more money
Politicians, who encourage production and sale of liquor, are acting contrary to efforts for de–addiction by centres like the Muktangan. The licences given for producing liquor from foodgrain will help the trade to flourish further and lead to more addiction, observed noted social activist Abhay Bang.
He was speaking at a programme held to mark the 25th anniversary of Muktangan De–addiction Centre at the Tilak Smarak Mandir on Sunday.
Expressing concern that 13 lakh tonnes of foodgrain will go into making 100 crore litres of liquor in a year, he said the politicians in the state had set the ground for encouraging addiction to earn money.
Bang, who led the movement for the liquor ban in Gadchiroli district, said the state is divided into zones producing sugarcane, grape and wheat. Politicians have taken charge of each zone to ensure that liquor is manufactured from whatever is produced there. When liquor is flowing in abundantly, it is not surprising that the addiction rate is going up, said Bang, who is also founder of Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (Search), which provides community health care to tribals in Gadchiroli.
"We are destroying an entire generation by providing it with substances of addiction. Over 50% of the people in Gadchiroli district are addicted to tobacco, according to a recent survey by our institute. The quantity in which tobacco is produced in Gadchiroli is shocking. The age of the addicts had go.
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