Kutch women want parties to implement ban on hooch

GANDHINAGAR: In the Kutch district of otherwise dry state of Gujarat, the candidates for the Lok Sabha will also have to work for enforcing prohibition of alcohol once elected to power. At least that is what will be expected from them.

With steady rise in domestic violence cases due to rampant consumption of hooch, the women of the district have taken on the makers and sellers of illicit liquor and are now calling upon the candidates to support them in their tirade against alcohol.

Around 7,000 women got together in Bhuj on last Sunday in an event where the candidates from the principal political parties were invited and asked to ensure implementation of prohibition across the district.

“They say that there is prohibition in the state, but anyone can access hooch anywhere in Kutch and the rampant drinking is now leading to enhanced cases of domestic violence,” said Khataben Sameja from Kalanpar village in Nakhatrana Block. “We have been meeting women from all over the district and hearing their stories for a long time and decided to act against the illegal brewers ,” Sameja told ET adding that the women have raided few such breweries recently and are actively supported by the police in their drive.

“Now that polls are here, we thought this would be a good opportunity to take up the issue with the politicians and on Sunday we got all of them on one platform to listen to our demands,” she added. “The issue is not new, but so far no one was taking this up,” said Govind Danicha, candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party, who was one of the participants of the event.

Talking to ET, Danicha said enforcement of prohibition will become an issue in the election in Kutch.

“With more than six thousand women coming together and sharing their pains, it was a touching experience for all of us,” Girish Parmar told ET. “More than twenty thousand women across the district has been mobilized and they have been fighting against illicit liquor trade in the district for quite some time,” he said adding that while women have been facing lot of violence due to liquor consumption, the issue needs strong political will for resolution.