Nitish pins hopes on women to enforce prohibition

Dheeraj Kumar | NT

Patna Apparently peeved over the failure of police and excise officials in enforcing the prohibition act in total, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has now pinned his hopes on women for the success of his anti-liquor movement as he begins his ‘social reforms drive’ on December 22.

The early signs of his plan became evident during his recent visit to Madhubani district in north Bihar, bordering Nepal, where he exhorted women to take out a procession right away if someone in their neighbourhood is involved either in manufacturing, selling or drinking liquor.

Nitish will embark on his ‘Samaj Sudhar Yatra’ (social reforms drive) from East Champaran, the ‘karmbhumi’ of Mahatma Gandhi. During his drive, he will primarily speak about the consequences of alcohol consumption, seeking women’s support for the strict enforcement of prohibition.

“Nitish’s announcement for social reforms drive has taken many by surprise”, commented a political analyst on condition of anonymity. It was really unexpected as various burning issues, including scarcity of fertilizer, are facing his government, he added.

The opposition, as well his allies –BJP and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi- have stepped up their attacks after a series of tragedies involving spurious liquor claimed over 40 lives in the state last month.

A JD (U) MLA, Gopal Mandal, alleged that his own party MP from Bhagalpur Ajay Mandal is involved in liquor trade and farming opium in the state. However, there are some bright spots too as cases of domestic violence have fallen to 2,397 in 2019 from 3,792 in 2015, as per data from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The state government claims that domestic violence has reduced significantly after the enforcement of prohibition in 2016. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) report for 2019-20, 15.5 percent men above 15 years of age still consume alcohol in dry Bihar. Political analyst Kamal Kant Sahay said women have been at the forefront in the fight against consumption of liquor.