CADA cautions
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 26 2015:
People of the State should reject the State Govt's move to legalise liquor trade by granting licence to local brewers on the pretext of boosting revenue, promoting tourism and tackling unemployment problem, said Advocate Y Ratankumar, president of Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) .
Ratankumar was speaking as the resource person of a discussion and interaction programme as part of CADA campaign against substance abuse and awareness on drug menace at Laitonjam Makha Leikai club ground in Bishnupur district today.
The discussion and interaction programme was jointly organised by CADA, Apunba Nupi Lup (ANUL), Bishnupur and Laitonjam Apunba Meira Paibi Lup under the theme 'Sarkarna licence piraga yoo sunghanba yaroi' .
Ratankumar pointed out that Kerala Govt, which legalised liquor for promotion of tourism some years back, has decided to impose a ban on liquor recently after realising that saving the lives of its people from alcohol is more important than promotion of tourism.
It is very unfortunate that the State Govt is attempting to appease a few capitalist by legalising alcohol and alcohol trade, he said.
Ratankumar said that the State Govt should uphold the 'Dry State' status of Manipur which the Govt declared under the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 .
The programme was amongst others attended by Chingakham Shyam, adviser of CADA, Bishnupur district committee; Ngangom Pashot, president, Laitonjam Apunba Meira Paibi Lup; Lourembam Pramo, VP of ANUL; Khomdram Saratchandra, vice-chairperson of Nambol Municipal Council as the presidium members.
Similar programme was also organised jointly by CADA and Youth Sporting Club (YSC), Naorem Chaprou at Naorem Chaprou Community hall.
Naorem Indra, councillor, Ward No 7 Samurou Nagar Panchayat attended the programme as the chief guest.
Naorem Tomba Mangang, ex-councillor, Samurou NP, Dipanjit Ningthoujam, secretary general, CADA and Naorem Nilamani, assistant teacher were the president and guests of honour respectively.
Hijam Priyokumar, executive member, CADA was the resource person.