Drunkard Kerala A shame
Kochi: Keralites created a drinking record for themselves in the month of March just passed. In March, the Beverages Corporation (Bevco) sold liquor worth Ra.550 crores. This was the highest sales record in a single month in three decades history of the liquor monopoly. And, the drinkers in the State toasted Bevco on the two final days of the month by buying Rs. 52 crores worth of drinks.
The rise in sales on March 30-31 was in view of the shuttering of the Bevco shops on the first two days of April on the account of the first of the month closure and public holiday for Good Friday. By the unprecedented turnover in March, Bevco surpass its own projected sales and revenue figures for the year 2009-10 financial years.
GOD SAVE KERALA!!! BECAUSE IT IS GOD’S OWN COUNTRY
(April, 3rd, 2010 The Hindu Hyderabad Edn Page 11.)
THE ADDITIONAL UPDATE TO THIS ARTICLE IS Kerala tops the list of states with highest rate of per capita consumption of alcohol. Punjab with 7.9 litres takes the second place. In the first financial quarter Keralites drank 68.32 lakh cases of hard liquor and 26.92 lakh cases of beer taking the money spend to Rs 2019.38 crores. The state government earned taxes to the tune of Rs 1653.87 crores. The figures when taken together with the population of the state shows that every Keralite drinks liquor worth Rs 1340 every year.
ReplyDeleteKerala earned Rs 5040 crores in taxes last year from the liquor sale last year. If the sales figures for the months April 2010 to July 2010 are any indication the state will earn revenue of Rs 6500 crores by the way of liquor taxes alone. When someone buys liquor worth Rs 100 from a beverages outlet government gets Rs 80. Rs 18 will go to the liquor manufacturer and Rs 2 to the beverages corporation.
In my opinion, more than feeling shame, it’s a matter of worry that why malayalee want to consume this much alcohol in his daily life ? Because we already have shamefull things in our society /country like Poverty ,Terrorism, Corruption, HIV, Violence against woman, Political Horse Trading, Acute Commercialized Media Attitude and Vote bank pleasing politics etc etc.
We spent crores of public money time to time on unimportant matters. I think now its time to take this matter seriously and have to study the cause of this extra ordinary consumption of alcohol to save the society and values of Malayalees. It’s a known fact that Liquor create a bad influence on several sector of life and the maximum impact will be up on Below Poverty Line. Therefore Government and our Welfare Organizations should come forward to take the responsibility to save the people of Gods own Country from this Alcoholic Curse other than feeling shame on them. For that studying on their socio-economic, psychological and political angles are necessary. Then It is not impossible to regain the proud of Kerala and Keralites. Its my opinion. What you think sir ?
I fully agree with you. It requires a deep study.Universities of Kerala should take up lead. I will write to Vice Chancellors.
ReplyDeleteIt is not impossible to reduce consumption of liquor. AWARE in Tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh could succeed 90% elimination of alcohol in 3000 villages. In fact it 100% But for safety I put it 90% . I led anti liquor movement. It is women of Andhra who fought against this evil. Unfortunately AWARE is not working in Kerala.In elimination of Liquor Government is first obstacle. It earns its revenue from selling slow poison. Therefore people's movement alone can address this problem. NGOs Civil Societies should come together. There should be a public debate.I am thinking how to start this in Kerala. I am very much pleased by your comment and suggestion. Thanks.
Let us see what we can do about this.
Yes Sir….. That’s the solution. As you said, it is impossible to reduce consumption of liquor. As there are Major Whales who have advantage from this Destructing Tendency. But same time You and Aware already proved that it is not impossible too. Also it is not a simple thing to achieve 90/100% success to eliminate this Social Evil in 3000 villages.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that Kerala’s socio-economic platform is entirely different than Andhra Pradesh. In other way, it is easy to show the path to a blind, but it is not easy to lead a person who is pretending as blind without any blindness. Keralites are fully educated and aware of their rights than responsibilities. They know how to restore their right to have their drinks peacefully. ha ha ha ha ha. We have to consider this point too. :))))
No doubt Government will be the first obstacle in this way. But as a major profit taker in this Blood Money, Government automatically have some responsibility to do the damage control to the affected areas. Government must provide all kind of support to these Universities / Organization who is conducting the study to know the cause and to find a solution for this Recent Liquor Depression in a Society.
Thanks for taking an initiative in this matter. As a Legend in the field of Social Welfare , AWARE can play a major role in this case to save Malayalee from this Deadly Addiction, which will destroy his tradition and values .
My hearty wishes and sincere prayers will be always with you. Thank you. :)
I am impressed by your sincerity and commitment.I have seen families ruined. I have seen families revived after throwing liquor bottle. In 1975 I have seen a fully drunk bonded labor disturbing my public meeting on the instruction of his landlord and liquor contractor. He was made to join AWARE. In 1977, he contested against his land lord and won 26,000 majority as President of Panchayat Block. He was a tribal contested in general seat. His ex employer spent for elections Rs 4 lakhs while he collected Rs.29,000 spent only Rs. 21,000. These were example that made lakhs of tribals and Harizans to say NO to liquor. 7 times there were attempt on my life by Liquior contractors and Landlords of Andhra Pradesh.
ReplyDeleteI will now sincerely work towards making my brothers and sisters of Kerala to realize what they are doing and what is the consequences of Evil Drink.
I need people like you to support me and help me
Dr Madhavan
Thanks a lot to undertand my words in its right feeling Sir. So great to know about your struggles to free families from the Liquor Depression.
ReplyDeleteI salute your determination & courage. Sure..my sincere support and prayers will be always with you. Thank you sir.
I am struggling to get some time to start my struggle against Alcohol in Kerala. Still my letters to Editors, Vice Chancellors, Politicians Social Workers are not ready. I work almost 18 hours a day and travel ABOUT 6000 km a month. God bless you !!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing!!!! May God bless you with all that energy, abilities, long life and good health to strengthen you up day by day to get your service to all the people of this nation. Best of luck. Thanks for the blessings too.
ReplyDelete