Health Minister justifies lifting prohibition
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28 2022:
Even as Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) and a section of the people mostly womenfolk have been urging the State Government to withdraw the Cabinet decision to lift prohibition, Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh has said that the Government resolved to legalise liquor after taking the ground reality into consideration.
Dr Sapam Ranjan joined Rashtriya Poshan Maah, National Nutrition Month programme at Phoijing Awang Community Hall in Konthoujam AC, today.
The event was organized by ICDS Project Imphal West-1, Lamsang.
At the event, the Health Minister continued that production and sale of liquor would be examined strictly after the liquor policy is implemented properly.
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The statement of the Health Minister indicates that the Government is not considering cancelling the Cabinet decision taken on September 20 last as demanded by a section of people and CSOs.
Saying that the rate of drinking is considerably high in Manipur as 47 per cent adults drink alcohol, the Health Minister maintained that the content of alcohol in local brew is very high as compared to other liquor, apart from containing unhealthy substances as per the findings of experts.
The Cabinet decided to lift prohibition after analysing the merit and demerit and considering the health factor for over two years, the Health Minister said and clarified that the objective of the Government for legalising liquor is not revenue collection alone as health factors was also properly analysed by the Government.
Dr Ranjan also acknowledged the role being played by Anganwadi workers, helpers and ASHAs at the grassroot to deliver the benefits of the Central scheme to the people in remote areas.
The Minister also said that there is a need for the Departments of Health, Social Welfare and Education to work collectively to take the State to greater heights.
The Health Minister also stated that the Government is targeting to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB) from the country by 2025 .
Bantee Singh Konthoujam, Joint Director of Social Welfare Department also attended the programme among others.