New excise policy draws ire of women organsiations

Vijayawada: Leaders of several women’s organisations took part in a protest the new liquor policy which would be implemented from July 1. The protest at Lenin Centre here on Thursday was led by former MP and Vasavya Mahila Mandali president Chennupati Vidya.

Addressing the protesters, Vidya charged the state government with turning liquor as main source of revenue to exchequer by issuing licences for 5 years to wine shops. Demanding closure of belt shops, she said most of the people were getting addicted to liquor and ruining their lives, deserting even their families. The government should take steps to regulate liquor policies, she said.

AP Mahila Samakhya general secretary Durga Bhavani said that the government should create awareness among people against consumption of liquor through programmes and awareness campaigns by Madyapana Vimochana Prachara Committee.

She further said that the government should be very strict in giving licences to shops which violate rules and set up shops in residential areas, school zones and at places of worship. She also sought screening of advertisements against liquor consumption in all movie theatres. Durga Bhavani said that the government had given licences to 85 new liquor shops in addition to the existing 4,300 thus encouraging liquor consumption.