Women set deadline for closure of liquor shops

KADAPA: District collector V Anil Kumar was taken by surprise when women from Peddapaspula village of Peddamudiyam mandal came to his office, urging him to remove the liquor shops in their village. They said it is ok even if the government schemes are not implemented in the village, but the liquor shops, which are the source of every evil in the village, must be removed.Not stopping there, they gave an ultimatum to the district administration that they will sit in hunger strike at the liquor shops if they are not removed by Monday.Venkata Narsamma, Savitri, Padmavathi, Nagalakshmi and other women from the village said their husbands, sons and even grandsons have become addicted to liquor and are ruining their families and lives. “If we don’t give them the money earned by working as daily wage labourers, we get beaten up. Liquor has become the sole reason for family disputes in the village,” they said.The women also expressed their ire over the police and said that when they met them seeking closure of the liquor shops, police responded rudely. “They don’t take action when belt shops operate illegally, but get agitated when we meet them in a bid to save our families,” they said in anguish.They also complained that belt shops are forcing their husbands and children to pledge lands for liquor on credit."I am a farmhand and earning enough to sustain the family has become hard. We have one acre and my husband Gopal, who got addicted to liquor was forced to part with that land to continue his habit,” said Venkatalakshmama, with tears in her eyes. Virasam state secretary Varalakshmi, Poura Hakkula Sangham district convener Shamir Basha, CPI district secretary G Eswariah, IDWA, Mahila Samakhya leaders were also present.