By Sujata Jena SS.CC

Trivandrum: The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), Madya Virudha Samiti, Samyukta Christava Madya Varjana Samiti, Church of South India (CSI), Madya Virudha Samiti and Gandhi Haritha Samridha jointly organized an agitation against the present liquor policy of Kerala, South India on 23 October.

More than 5000 thousands women and men from coastal and urban regions of Trivandrum joined the agitation march.

The dharna started from State Museum at 10.30 am reaching the State Secretariate at 12.30 pm. Men and women raised their slogan: “Venda Venda Madyam Venda (we do not want alcohol), we demand modification in the liquor policy, remove evil and restore life.”

In June 2017 the Kerala government unveiled its new liquor policy by deciding to open closed bar outlets in three stars and above-classified hotels.

Under this rule, the Government has reduced the distance of bars functioning in hotels from educational institutions and places of worship to 50 metres from the previous policy of 200 metres.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the policy was redrafted considering the fall in state revenue and increase in the consumption of intoxicant substances.

V.M Sudhiwran, a Congress leader and Archbishop Maria Callist Soosa Pakiam of Latin Rite Archdiocese of Trivandrum convened the protest.

A memorandum was submitted earlier to the agitation on 16th Oct to the Chief Minister. Sources said the Chief Minister had no positive response to it.

The condition that the liquor outlet could function anywhere was dreadful. The increase in the use of alcohol was an obstacle to social progress.

The statement read that the decision to reduce the distance of bars from educational institutions and places of worship would directly contribute to the availability of liquor and, as such, the government had no moral right to talk about discipline.

It mainly asked to restore the old policy keeping 200 meters distance of liqour outlets from educational Institutions and places of worship. It

The protest was to vest the responsibility for the liquor policy to the panchayat [village councils], in this case to the village panchayat, block panchayat and district panchayats.

The positive action from the Government is awaited.