Rural women take up cudgels against liquor

DHANBAD: Women and children of a dozen villages near Giridih have launched a strong temperance movement against manufacturers and consumers of liquor. Armed with brooms and sticks, they are catching hold of the drunkards, destroying the distilleries and beating up the liquor consumers on the streets.
Since Saturday, the villagers have started raiding and destroying the illicit distilleries in the area.They come out on streets with brooms and sticks and search for the "drunkards", locate them, bring them out in public view and beat them in presence of their relatives.
They move in groups to reach the distilleries operating in Khuntabandh, Karanpara, Dhobili, Birajpur, Hadwadih, Barasoli, Simradhab, Bhojdiha, Dhanuadih. This way, they succeeded in destroying at least a dozen liquor manufacturing units.
Before attacking the manufacturers and consumers, the villagers had issued warnings through posters and banners asking them to close down their business. The economy of the villages was affected as most of the liquor consumers in the area are quarry and mines workers who spend their daily wages on liquor.
Champa Devi, one of the leaders from Karanpara said, "The ambience of the village got tainted. Liquor consumers used to assemble at village assembly points and disturb women and young girls. Young children too were getting affected."
The movement is being led by Diliya Devi, Parinita Devi, Putli Devi. They have support from the local leaders, including Rajesh Yadav - a member of Giridih district panchayat, Doman Das and Bhubenshwar Das.
Since there is no violence during the movement, police have not intervened. A senior police officer said the movement would help prevent crimes too.