Manipur cabinet decides to partially lift liquor prohibition

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Sep. 21 (EMN): The Manipur cabinet has decided to partially lift the prohibition of liquor and regulate local liquor as consumption of unregulated liquor has become a major health issue in the form of  liver and kidney diseases in the state.

The Manipur cabinet meeting held at the CM’s secretariat in Imphal on Sep. 20 was chaired by the Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

In a tweet, Biren Singh wrote: “Chaired a cabinet meeting to deliberate on various crucial matters of the state.”

Informing that many people are suffering from liver and kidney diseases after consuming unregulated liquor in the state, the state Tribal affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip said that the government has taken up the initiative not to generate revenue alone but to mainly prevent health issues.

The local liquor at Sekmai and Andro in the state will be checked and regulated in consultation with experts from Ireland and Scotland, he added.

Letpao, who also holds the Horticulture portfolio, said the government is expecting revenue of INR 600 crore.

Manipur was declared as a dry state in 1991 after enacting Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 following demand by the general public particularly the women. With the enactment of the Act, Manipur officially became a dry state, with an exemption granted to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities to brew liquor for traditional purposes. The state Excise department was given the task to regulate and implement the prohibition.

However, despite the crackdowns by the law enforcing agencies and the civil society groups, local liquor as well as Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) are available in the black market.

Other than locally brewed alcohol, which is easily available, IMFL is sourced from various places, including canteens of security forces.

CADA against govt. decision

Meanwhile, a Manipur based civil society organisation — Coalition against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) — has demanded withdrawal of the government’s decision.

Speaking to the media, General Secretary Geetchandra Mangang of CADA said the move of the government is very unfortunate.

‘We are demanding a white paper from the government and the white paper to be given in a public platform for the public to discuss the merits and demerits of the modalities etc’, he said.

Lamenting the government’s failure to respond to their demands, Geetchandra said, ‘we will consult our family organisations and component bodies to take further course of actions’.