Chennai: Arguments rage about ban as addicts keep dying

Chennai: Much has been said, discussed and argued about the return of prohibition in the state. It has been a hot topic on the political platform, social media and TV debates over the years. The Dravidian parties say they are working towards bringing in prohibition; while the DMK aims for total prohibition, the ruling AIADMK says it will enforce it in phases.

 As the debate rages on, alcohol continues take its toll - often fatal - on the people who take it in excess and become alcoholics. When this happens in poor localities, the effect on families and communities can be devastating. In March, Kottai Colony, a Dalit residential pocket in Vandavasai, about 110 km from Chennai, lost seven people to alcohol addiction. There was an unending procession of funerals and last rites.

 In October 2003, the Government of Chief  Minister J Jayalalithaa took over the retail liquor trade with the objective of eliminating the liquor cartel, which was following unfair trade practices, causing serious health hazards to the people and also to ensure some revenue for the government. The then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa took over the trade to overcome revenue losses to State. However, political parties and social activists opposed liquor sale by the state. Following stiff opposition from various quarters, J Jayalalithaa, soon after she came back to power in May 2016, decided to close 500 Tasmac shops. Following widespread protests the present government headed by Edappadi K Palaniswami also closed several shops.

 The number of retail shops run by Tasmac was reduced from 7,896 to 5,198 in February this year. A total of 2,050 bars were attached to these shops across the state.

Currently, the state government generates average revenue of Rs 650 crore per day from 5,236 shops. Though the state government achieved its objective of raising revenue, the people, especially youth, fall prey to the habit, said R Moovendan, counsellor at the De-Addiction Centre, Vandavasi.

The seven persons who died in Kottai colony within a short span of time were C Velu who died on February 6, 2018, R Raji on March 2, R Ponnaiyan on March 8, M Sudhakar ,35, committed suicide on March 10, K Velu on March 23, Jaya on March 22, and a bank employee Manohar also died due to liquor addiction. Mr Moovendan said about a year ago, deeply dejected over his father's addiction to alcohol, a 17-year old medical course aspirant committed suicide by hanging himself from a rail overbridge in Tirunelveli in May 2018. In the moving suicide note the boy wrote “Appa do not do my last rites. Only then my soul will rest in peace. At least from now do not drink appa.”

In 2018, nearly seven persons lost their lives due to consumption of alcohol. Unable to live with their alcoholic husbands, two wives deserted them and when the two men died later, did not even attend their funerals, he added. S Chinnaponnu, 89, stares at the photo of his deceased son K Velu in a tiny hut made up of asbestos cement sheets. She said “I have become an orphan after the death of my son. There is no one to look after me. We tried hard to reform him. Nothing worked. He pledged all the valuables, including utensils such as silver pots, to drink alcohol. Dejected over his addiction, his wife left him a few years ago.”

 R Victoria, wife of the late Raji, says liquor is available from early morning. Raji used to get illicit arrack from Tindivanam. His liver was seriously affected by the alcohol he was addicted to.

 The Madras High Court recently stated that the state government must be made responsible for the rise in criminal offences committed by persons under the influence of alcohol and the government should be made an accused for instigating the people to consume alcohol. Justice N Kirubakaran said that there is no point in calling Mahatma Gandhi the “Father of our Nation” if we don't follow his core principle of prohibiting liquor. Gandhi had fought for prohibition throughout his life.

 Citing these observations, M Vijay, a local resident, said the government must be made responsible for death of persons due to alcohol addiction.  The government must give adequate compensation to the family members of the deceased.

A social activist, P Prakash says the government should impose prohibition in the state. The health of the people is more important than revenue of the state. The government must conduct counselling for alcohol addicts immediately across the state. When contacted, official sources did not respond.