"Legalisation of liquor is against War on Drugs"
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 13 2023:
The Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has claimed that the Cabinet resolution taken to legalise liquor in Manipur contradicts the very objective of the War on Drugs campaign.
MIYC, in a statement, said that the future of Manipur will become even more unpredictable if the rate of alcohol consumption and drug use increases in the State.
They, however, didn't list any demand in its two pages statement.
Lifting the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 by eyeing only the revenue it would generate was unfortunate and it will pose a serious threat to the State, MIYC said and asked whether the Cabinet decision was taken only in the interest of a section of elite individuals who will benefit from legalising liquor.
The Government has also undermined the decades old Nisha Band movement of womenfolk by legalising liquor, it added.
MIYC asked the purpose of carrying out the War on Drugs campaign and Nasha Mukta Bharat if they are going to legalise liquor.
It is unwise for the State Government to promote liquor business in Manipur by taking suggestion from only a group of "pseudo intellectuals," MIYC said and added that the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act was enacted in 1991 despite the impact on the State's economy in the larger interest of the people.
Stating that the successive Governments, however, didn't enforce the legislation strictly, the MIYC continued that the resolution to legalise liquor was taken only by the Cabinet and it was never passed in the State Assembly.
Further stating that Manipur has been bearing the brunt of alcoholism, excessive drug use, narco terrorism, poppy plantations etc, the Youth Centre said that Manipur ranked third among the Indian States in terms of alcohol intake as per the report "Magnitude of Substance Use in India, 2019" furnished by National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) .
Drug use and alcoholism also causes several social issues in the form of domestic violence and crimes against women and children, it added.
MIYC opined that the natural beauty, historical places and rich culture of the State are enough to promote tourism in Manipur and earn revenue.
Continuing that Naga people vehemently oppose the undertaking of the then Government to legalise liquor in the hill districts in 2004 and they still stick to their stand which is appreciable, MIYC reiterated that the future of Manipur will be grim if the issue of drug use and alcoholism is not solved.