Wednesday, 20 March 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Uttarakhand Mahila Munch (UMM) has asked the government to take concrete steps to check the rising liquor and drug abuse along with smuggling of contraband in the State. Its members said this while presenting a memorandum addressed to the governor at the district magistrate’s office on Tuesday.
UMM president Kamla Pant stated that initially there were plans to highlight the memorandum through a strong demonstration by the organisations. However, due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, the event was changed to the submission of the memorandum only. Pant expressed concern over the government’s leniency towards the rising issue of drug trafficking along with its liquor policy which has led to the widespread availability of liquor even in remote villages and households. She highlighted the alarming trend of various drugs being smuggled from Dehradun to secluded mountain areas, emphasising the growing threat to youth and the resulting unrest within families.
Regarding the memorandum to the governor, she stated that intoxication is a significant factor contributing to road accidents. The memorandum includes seven demands, such as altering the liquor policy, establishing an empowered prohibition department and decreasing liquor contracts annually by a minimum of two per cent. Apart from this, not opening liquor vends in areas where it is opposed, implementing stringent laws to prevent drug smuggling, assigning responsibility to relevant police stations and establishing an anti-drug advisory committee of representatives from anti-drug women’s organisations and public organisations were also added to the memorandum, she said.
