Surprised as I was, because we Punjabis by nature are so fond of booze! It wouldn't be wrong to say that no celebration of ours is complete without the sixth river ( read alcohol ) flowing freely :)
So why this sudden and widespread outrage at liquor vends being set up?
Let us first look at some ground realities. According to recent UNESCO statistics, Amritsar-The Holy City- alone consumes alcohol worth Rs.1 crore everyday. 80% of Punjab's youth does drugs of which 38% are alcoholics. 67% of Punjab's rural households have atleast one drug addict. ( Source - http://www.dise.in/Downloads/Use%20of%20Dise%20Data/Dr%20Birendra%20Kaur..pdf ).
Also, we know that Punjab's economy is predominantly an agrarian one and 70% of its workforce is engaged in agriculture. Agriculture is an occupation that requires hard work only through the seasons of sowing and reaping. The workforce probably does not engage itself during the remaining larger part of the year and hence might have an inclination towards drugs. The Punjab economy is growing at a slow pace of 4% / annum (approx) and hence there are a lot of unemployed youth - 10.5% in rural areas & 15.2% in urban areas - which is one of the in the country! ( Source - http://punjabnews.org/chandigarh-news-jobless-rate-in-punjab-10-5%C2%B00-survey.html/ )
So going by these statistics this whole problem seems to be of a socio-economic nature. So where does the State Government fit in? How dare I say that this mess is Government sponsored? As far as I remember it was during the previous Capt. Amrinder Singh led Congress regime that liberalisation of liquor vend licences was done. Suddenly "Theka Sharab Desi Ate Angrezi" sprang up everywhere - Housing localities,Markets,near Schools, Hospitals, places of worships, highways etc. Over a period of time these liquor vends kept on multiplying. These liquor vends diversified themselves into Air Conditioned Taverns and became a haven for drug addicts by serving not just booze but also all kinds of narcotics. Sensing that this business has a potential to generate a lot of money - black and white - the politicos stepped in. Some cases also reached the Punjab & Haryana High Court alleging top politicos favouring their honchos while giving out licenses of liquor vends. With time the regime changed to P.S.Badal led Shiromani Akali Dal - BJP combine. I may here point out that both parties have certain religious affiliations and the religions in whose name they ask for votes forbid its followers to consume alcoholic products.
Although I do not have the statistics with me but by merely looking around myself I can vouch that the number of liquor vends is ever increasing.
It is also worth noting that Punjab is a cash strapped state. Its spendings far exceed its revenues which have created a humongous fiscal deficit - an issue which was at the center of a political storm kicked up by the then Finance min Manpreet Singh Badal. In such a scenario liquor vend licences are a Golden Egg Laying Hen for the state government. Punjab Govt is looking forward to earn a whopping Rs 3190 Cr from the alcohol trade this fiscal year. On the other hand Punjab Health Minister Prof Lakshmi Kanta Chawla has promised to open de addiction centers in all the district civil hospitals. However good the Govt.'s intentions be, this sure sounds like a cruel joke.
For those who argue that it is vital to promote this trade because of the revenue it generates , I would like to ask them - which is more important - revenue or the human capital being ruined by alcoholic products ?
As for non-alcoholic drugs, a bumper opium crop in Afghanistan, a porous border with Pakistan contribute to the ever increasing menace. Not surprisingly Punjab Police often seizes the largest quantity of drugs than any state's police force. Although the Government claims it is cracking down on drugs, there are serious allegations by the insiders that the top political boss's favored touts are running a drug mafia in the state.
In all this it is the unsuspecting youth that takes a pint for getting high and ends up as an addict.
Also it is for the youth and the general public ( Men in this case ) to understand that by doing drugs they don't just ruin a person, the man being the bread-winner they ruin a family. The situation is alarming. All I can say now is what elders usually say in a bad situation - Rabb Rakha !
Amaninder, its very nicely written. Keep up with your efforts to bring to light such issues.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is complex as Govts. encouraging it for revenues but dignity of persons being swept away by Sixth river, as you said. It hardly makes a difference if its Akali or Congress Govt. All are same. The victimised are families and in long run society too.
I feel that its only an individual who can decide best about himself and his family.