'Government's commitment needed to ban liquor'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 31 2022:
Raising strong objection to the government's confession of not being able to ban liquor despite implementation of Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991, Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) president Hijam Priyokumar has asserted that the government can easily enforce the ban on liquor if it is committed enough.
He was attending a one-day awareness programme on 'Impact of drugs and alcohol, crimes against women and children, and role of public in preventing them' held at Ima Sana Chingjroibi Shanglen, Khurai Konsam Leikai on Saturday.
Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup Imphal East, CADA, Youth Organisation Sporting Club (YOSC), Friends Union Club (FUC) and Khurai Konsam Leikai Apunba Khunai Kanba Nupi Lup jointly organised the awareness programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Priyokumar pointed out that the government can amend the Act to make it more stringent and effective, and enforce the ban on liquor if it is committed to saving the future generations.
Observing that the society is in a dire state, he said in the past, only the male population of the society used drugs and alcohol but today it has become common among both genders.
This situation has cast a shadow on the fate of the future generation and it needs immediate intervention to salvage the situation, he contended.
Priyokumar also spoke about how China rose to become a global superpower after its success in opium war, and stressed the need to adopt such policies in the state too.
Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup Imphal East president Yumlembam ongbi Mema, Khurai Konsam Leikai GP pradhan Leimaram Rajen, FUC president Nongmaithem Somorendro, YOSC former secretary Yaikhom Biken and Khurai Konsam Leikai Apunba Khunai Kanba Nupi Lup advisor Wahengbam Tharo attended the programme as presidium members.