Fighting against drug menace and liquor in the State, the Belan Brigade on Sunday slams the SAD-BJP led Punjab Government for its new excise policy for reducing the liquor rates. The NGO Belan Brigade maintained that it would “adversely affect the health and life of poor and labourers of the state”.
“Decision to increase the percentage of degree of wine 50 to 75 per cent will result into manifold increase the heart, kidney, liver failure, diabetics, blood pressure, HIV-AIDS. It would also increase the accidents, domestic violence, crime and corruption as the degree of alcohol is going agitate the mind of user. Who will save the people when there are large numbers of consumers are even police personnel,” said Brigade leader Anita Sharma.
She said: “Government targets to collect about Rs5000 crores from excise. It will affect the social life of poor family as the increase of strength of wine will lead to more deaths thereby adding widow and orphans. State government is least bothered about welfare of society.”
Sharma said that minister, after visiting abroad, advocated the sale of liquor at every nook and corner but they do not realise that neither our society norms nor our family structure is mature enough for the same.
“In developed countries, the Government takes social responsibilities like unemployment, old age allowance, free medical facilities and free education, whereas in Indian state or at Centre, the government has failed miserably on this account,” she said.