Koppal: Women-led villagers have clashed with liquor sellers and consumers in Hire Myageri and Benakal villages of Yelburga and Kukanur taluks, respectively, complaining of youth deaths due to liquor addiction. They took their complaint to the DC and Gavisiddeshwara Swami of the Gavi Mutt.
Villagers of Hire Myageri convene a Gandhi Chintan Sabha Sunday to decide on a ban on the sale of illegal liquor in their village
Backed by the Gandhi Balaga team, the women also picketed the gram panchayat. Villagers have imposed a Rs 25,000 penalty on anyone quarrelling while inebriated, and a Rs 50,000 fine on liquor sellers. When the business went behind closed doors, women alerted the police, who raided the spot and collected the fine.Basamma Kallur, Bheemakka Hanchinal and Renukamma Kogile, residents of Benakal, told TOI that illegal liquor sales were rampant in the village and available at all times, even in grocery shops.“As many as 4-5 youths died from addiction in recent years, and the health of many others deteriorated. Many families were turning into victims of the addiction. Irked by the situation, we picketed the gram panchayat a month ago requesting a ban on the illegal sale of liquor, but in vain. We approached the district administration and Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swami of Koppal seeking their intervention,” they added.Former gram panchayat president Shekhappa Hotti, former member Mallappa Baligeri, Halesh Patil, Ramappa Bhajantri and other residents said the women’s agitation against liquor led to police action against illegal sales.“Seeing their efforts, many men joined in their agitation. After a week of police action, sales and consumption resumed, so the women themselves went to the sellers and stopped the sale. Meanwhile, Gavisiddeshwara Swami suggested members of Gandhi Balaga Koppal to visit the village,” they explained.The women said they passed a resolution imposing a Rs 50,000 penalty on sellers and a Rs 25,000 penalty on inebriated nuisance creators. As a result, the village has almost stopped the illegal sale of liquor.In Hire Myageri, too, Sharanappa Gurikar, Ningaraj Ganiger, Ashok and other residents said women and all villagers passed a resolution banning liquor sales and imposing a Rs 25,000 fine on sellers if found.Sharanappa Bachalapur, a member of Gandhi Balaga Koppal, said a delegation from Balaga visited both villages and supported the peaceful agitation.“It was a result of the awareness programme of Karnataka State Temperance Board held in Hatti village on Aug 14. On the suggestion of Gavi Mutt Swami, the board gave its ‘Samyama’ award to Hatti and 10 other villages in the Kukanur and Kushtagi taluks. Meanwhile, Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi also announced awards for such alcohol-free villages. Though an addiction-free society is still a mirage, such efforts take society to a healthier and wealthier one,” he commented.
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