[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Silver Jubilee Year of Nagaland as “Dry State” has arrived. It was in 1989 that the Government of Nagaland declared Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act. Many people have criticized the pharisaic attitude with regarding to the implementation of this Act and expressed mildly in favour of lifting the Prohibition Act. Allow me to share my personal view too (not the view of the Catholic Church) on this prohibition.It is very sad to see that the sickness of alcoholism is consuming many from the men folk and making their families fatherless homes. But no one can deny that the Act has not managed to stop our people from getting what they want. It is high time for our representatives to come out boldly with a new strategy to tackle it or else lift it. Following the words of Chad Coldy who says, “When it doesn’t work, then they need some more drastic changes”, I am writing this in favour of lifting the Prohibition Act.
Many people have expressed that if the prohibition is lifted the government can generate some income. Yes, Money is not everything but how long the money of our state be drained out to our neighboring states, and all the times our state government is lamenting day in and day out for lack of funds. There is no money to pay the salaries of the government servants, no money to complete the government projects, not enough money to repair the so called “stream-like roads”, etc. Are we, the church leaders, also not responsible to help the government in raising some revenue to help ourselves and not suck all the resources from the government? Is it forbidden to generate money from our own land?
To me, putting the string by the church Personals in preventing the government from revoking the action is unreasonable and high handedness. This is a deeply rooted pride in us. We, the church leaders need to accept our failures. Which Reverend or Pastor or Church Leader can deny that the drinks of all types are sold under our nose and reach our door steps easily? What have we done personally to stop them? Did you and I go and meet them in their shops and homes to speak for the need to stop the business, though they contribute to our treasury with tithe? Have we psycho-educated them, not in the church but in their homes and personally or in groups?
The ban is adding oil to the fire, encouraging the flow of spurious liquid in our state. When our people (alcoholics) are made to consume the spurious drinks making them father less families, are we not be guilty of or don’t we have the Moral Responsibility for killing them. It is because the spurious drinks are more dangerous and harmful than the genuine one.
Another under current at work actively for total prohibition is, those who run this business have seen their trade flourishing. They have vehemently supported and brain washed those who stand for total prohibition to make their business more lucrative.
I see the police men working very hard in catching the drinks and publishing the fruits of their hard labour in the local dailies are just a social adjustment. When I see police men roaming around the Liquor shops, I wonder whether they are there to guard the people from quarrelling after the drink or to protect the shops.
The raided shops by the arm forces are freely selling the liquor bottles on the next day. It is well known from the Google all over the world that Nagaland is the “wettest dry state”. Why are we covering our heads as if we do not see anything and think that everything is Ok? What great things are we doing! Drinks are easily available, at a very high price; even in the farthest end part our state crossing many inter district police check gates. How can this happen? Are these not mockery of ourselves?
I have not seen as many drunkards as in our beloved state where there is no is liquor prohibition and liquor shops are in abundance. There, people do not gulp because they do not worry as it is available at any time. They have learnt to drink.
God forbids, but in case if a group of people drink the poisonous drinks and die, who will be responsible? If the government gives the license, it will check the poisonous drinks as well as be responsible for any mishap.
These liquor shops are set up and guarded by very ordinary people but owned by the others: National Workers, Politicians, powerful personalities, etc. They are the ones strongly standing as the backbone for the prohibition Act because they see their business is flourishing. Are they too worried that giant source of money will be divided?
The Politicians seem to be very timid in front of the mighty Church become it is their vote bank. We cannot expect a real development and bring change if any person or organization serves like puppet in another person’s hand. There a golden rule that the politics should not mixed with religion.
I foresee that once this ban is lifted, there will be unrest for sometimes and people cannot walk around at night our sole commercial market Dimapur for a year or two but very long. But I also hope that this is the only way our people will learn to abstain from drink and be responsible. We need to lift the ban at the earliest but conduct awareness program to empower from within. We may need to get the experts to help those who are suffering from this sickness. God bless us all.
Fr. George Rino
Catholic Cathedral, Kohima
