Meira Paibi groups oppose liquor legalisation
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 25 2022: Amid the slugfest between the government and CSOs & Meira Paibi organisations over the recent state cabinet decision of legalising liquor, four more major Meira Paibi organisations of the state have raised their strong objection to the new policy of the Biren government.

Addressing a press meet at its office premises, Keishampat, here, on Sunday, Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) president L Nganbi Leima said that Meira Paibi movement began in the state in the 1970s as Nisha Bandh when the society was plagued by liquor addiction.

The movement succeeded to a great extent in preventing the descent of a chaotic society.

However, the recent decision of the state cabinet to legalise manufacture and sale of liquor in the state is a direct challenge to the Meira Paibi organisations, their objective and hard works.

They will strongly oppose the move and will not withdraw their stand until either the government withdraws the policy or kill them, she said.

She maintained that liquor addiction leads to domestic violence and chaos in the society, and the main victims in such scenario are the women and children.

The society had seen how addiction to liquor is impacting its morality and security of women and children.

There is not a single positive outcome of consuming liquor and it is a common knowledge, she said.

Nganbi also asked the government if it had lent any support to the drive against alcohol spearheaded by Meira Paibi organisations and some CSOs.

Instead of enforcing the prohibition, state police are providing protection to illegal liquor vendors, she alleged while observing that such failed policing on the part of the police department is the main reason behindihe government's inability to enforce prohibition.

She questioned the motive behind some sections of the society celebrating the legalisation policy and demanded the government to weigh the importance between the revenue and negative impact of liquor legalisation.

On the other hand, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur and All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA), in a joint statement, strongly opposed the state cabinet's decision and demanded the government to withdraw the move to legalise liquor.

Recalling how the Meira Paibi movement was started by women from across the state with support from local clubs and organisations, the joint statement said that the two organisations were hoping for the government to make necessary amendments for ensuring strict enforcement of prohibition in the state.

However, contrary to this, the government has now legalised liquor without inviting any suggestions or comments from the public.

It would be wrong for the government to trade the lives of citizens and peace & prosperity of the families for some revenue generation.

The government can always increase its revenue by ensuing regular collection of different forms of taxes on land, water, electricity among others instead of depending on liquor sale, the joint statement suggested.

The two organisations also questioned rationale of the government in treating liquor and other drugs differently while the impact to the society is more or less the same.

They also demanded the government to present a whitepaper on minimising the impact of liquor consumption to individual families and the society without which they will not accept the decision of the government, the joint statement added.

At the same time, All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup termed the recent decision of the state cabinet on legalising liquor as a mockery to years of spending sleepless night by Meira Paibi members across the state.

In a statement, the organisation maintained that liquor is one of the most common intoxicants in any society and allowing liquor consumption will definitely lead to chaos in the state.

Highlighting how unrestricted consumption of liquor leads to chaos, losing morality and violent crimes in the society, the organisation demanded the government to withdraw the policy while threatening of launching intense agitation.

The statement also alleged the government of doing nothing to enforce prohibition in the past too.

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