The Odisha Mada Mukti Abhiyan (OMMA), an anti-alcohol outfit, has appealed to all the leaders across the party lines to save the State from consumption of alcohol in public interest.
The organisation, which has been fighting for total prohibition of alcohol in the State, welcomed the questions that were raised by 40 legislators in the Assembly during the 11-day monsoon session of Assembly related to use of alcohol and its consequences.
Keeping the public interest in mind, the leaders cutting across the party lines including the Chief Minister and leader of Opposition should come forward to save the State from alcohol, urged the OMMA. While congratulating the MlAs for raising the questions in Assembly against alcohol, the OMMA members Pramila Swain and Prahlad Kumar Sinha appealed all the legislators, MPs, Councilors, Corporators, Panchayat representatives, Self Help Groups and other organisations to work with commitment against alcohol across the State.
The organisation has urged the Government to observe the auspicious Gandhi Jayanti as the liquor free day on October 2. While the Government gets only Rs 2,500 crore revenue from the Excise Department, it bears the loss at crores due to consumption of alcohol and other toxic products, the OMMA said while demanding the strict implementation of the Odisha Prohibition Act Notably, the MlAs in the House had dragged the attention by raising the questions to the excise department about the consumption of alcohol and its dangerous consequences. On August 19 and 26, the leaders from Congress, BJD and BJP had asked 7 starred and 32 un-starred questions seeking reply from the Excise Minister Dr Damodar Rout.
Since the Government spoke about establishing the toxic free village expressing a big concern over the use of toxic products that are spoiling the young generation in the State, the MlAs sought explanation from the Sports and Youth Services Minister about the set up of the alcohol free villages.
As per the data provided by the Government in the House, the road accidents across the State in the past five years have claimed 2,000 persons, causing a huge loss of property of people. Out of the total victims, maximum cases took place due to consumption of alcohol. Several MlAs also sought reply from the Minister regarding the Centre’s appeal to the State Government to remove the liquor shops from the national and State High Ways. Besides, questions were asked about the degradation of healthcare services, education system and law and order along with other welfare schemes due to consumption of alcohol and other toxic products. Many legislators also suggested the Government to make the State a toxic-free through a private bill.