A civilian movement of sorts is sweeping across the border areas of West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand these days.
Across more than 60 villages, Gond Bhuiyan tribal women, assisted by some NGOs and self-help groups, have decided to take the matter of illegal liquor (mahua) consumption into their own hands.
They are cracking down on such breweries and their customers alike – stopping the trade, forcing shops to shut down and even fining the ‘culprits’ Rs 5,000 for selling and Rs 1,000 for consuming mahua in public. About 300 have already been fined. A person is being fined almost daily, and the funds collected are being flowed back into the fight.
The tribal women are cracking down on illegal breweries and their customers alike, stopping the trade, forcing shops to shut down and even fining the ‘culprits’
The tribal women say they are alarmed by the effects of illegal liquor consumption and irked by the proliferation of breweries that aid this. Aloka Gond, one from the group, says, “Our ancestors fought the British. Dharanidhar Naik (a Keonjhar tribal leader) has freed us from their oppression and now we must free today’s youth from slavery to alcohol.”
Others say alcohol is destroying tribal society and dimming its glory.
The movement has gathered impetus in 35 villages of district headquarters Chaibasa itself, with more than 10,000 women involved in it. Most of the tribals involved are illiterate or educated only till class 8.
However, the state excise department frowns upon their doling out punishments on their own.
Jharkhand Excise Commissioner Ameet Kumar says, “Their personal raids may lead to serious law and order problems. We have our control rooms functional in all districts and also at the state headquarters. We will help them demolish the illegal breweries and put the culprits behind the bars. No one should be taking the law in their own hands.”
According to Kumar, the women’s movement is not adversely affecting excise revenue earnings. “We haven’t so far received any complaint involving forced closure of licensed liquor manufacturing units, bottling plants and retail outlets,” he says.
The state excise department is, however, falling severely short of its 2021-22 revenue target of Rs 2,400 crore, having only achieved Rs 948 crore, with eight months of the fiscal over.
Nevertheless, in 2019-20, the Department exceeded its revenue projections and in 2020-21, fell short by a small margin, earning Rs 1,821 crore against the targeted Rs 1,830 crore.
Kumar also terms the fines illegal but Lok Swar’s Samvedana defends the women, saying, “Men indulge in violence against wives after getting drunk and are let off on the defence that they were inebriated. These campaigns demand sustained efforts and patronage by the government.”
A senior excise official, however, says that as Mahua is illegal in Jharkhand, action is taken promptly against any information received. Kumar also points out that campaigns against consumption of liquor and such other intoxicants are allowed under the prohibition policy.
The excise official welcomes the women’s movement but adds a note of caution. “Most of these illegal breweries are being run by ‘mighty’ persons in remote areas, where adequate precautions ought to be taken before laying hands on anyone.”
Voluntary organisation Lok Swar’s secretary, Shalini Samvedana, says, “It cannot be denied that consumption of liquor has ruined several families. Consumption of hadia and mahua is responsible for a majority of deaths in 40–50 years age group. Our organisation has launched a similar campaign in 20 villages of Khunti district.”
Samvedana admits as much when she says, “The campaigns by women often run into rough weathers due to different reasons.”
Despite the odds, such actions have been seen in other parts of the state too. Some villages have claimed to have become ‘nasha mukt’ (completely free of intoxication) and on occasions, the government has been known to felicitate the women spearheading the cause.
