Following Minister Nityananda Gond’s statement that the Odisha government indeed has plans to ban liquor; speculations are rife whether liquor will indeed be banned in Odisha like Bihar and Gujarat.
While speaking to media persons on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister, Nityananda Gond said, “Just cannot encourage liquor sale fearing revenue loss. Society is being polluted due to liquor addiction. Liquor has been banned in several states at the government level. Our government is also committed to doing the same. Necessary steps will be taken after discussion in this regard with Excise and other departments. We will try to make Odisha liquor-free in a phase-wise manner.”
However, Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan evaded the question pertaining to liquor-free Odisha.
As per reports, after mines, Odisha earns hefty revenues from liquor. The State earned a revenue of Rs 6455 crore only from liquor during the 2022-23 financial year. So, the State government will have to incur a huge loss by banning liquor in the State. Hence, questions are being raised over the practicability behind the liquor ban in Odisha.
What anti-liquor activists say?
On the other hand, according to anti-liquor activists, the benefit of banning liquor and drugs will be many times more than the revenue earned on liquor. As per them, violence and criminal activities will be reduced considerably by banning liquor and people will enjoy good health. Moreover, the treatment cost of the ailments caused by consuming liquor will also be reduced to a great extent.
“The way liquor shops have mushroomed in Odisha, it will be difficult to close those down in a day. However, those shops should be closed down in a phased manner to make Odisha liquor-free gradually. In this way, we can give a new kind of energy to our youths,” said BJP leader Babu Singh.
“The Minister’s statement looks like a green signal. However, it should not be confined to papers only, it should be implemented for the betterment of the state. Liquor-free movement should start from rural areas,” said Nirakar Bisoi, Coordinator of Salam Jeevan.
“The government should think about the fact that more money is spent for a person on a health card for his health hazards than the amount of money received as revenue from the liquor he is consuming in a span of 25-30 years of his life,” said Satyabrata Behera, Managing Director of New Life Wellness Trust.