At least 82 per cent of the criminals lodged in various jails across the State are addicts, a survey said. The survey conducted by the Odisha Mada Mukti Abhiyan (OMMA) on around 600 inmates in the jails showed that at least 498 of them are addicts.
It was clear that toxic products have a close relation with the criminals, stated the OMMA, adding, “The crime rate will decline by 60 per cent in the State if sale and consumption of alcohol is completely prohibited or controlled.” This conclusion of the survey was on the basis of the data collected from the jail inmates’ families, relatives and locals.
An average 4,000 people die every year due to road mishaps in the State, and alcohol is stated to be one of the reasons of 60 per cent of the road accidents, sources said.
In view of the major challenge and to reduce the road accidents, the Centre has been suggesting the State Government to remove the liquor shops from an area at least 500 metre from highways. However, alcohol is available in illegal manner in thousands of liquor shops near NHs despite the Central directive.
In the survey conducted on 40 liquor shops in the areas under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), it was shown that at least 32 per cent of the people who buy liquor are between the age of 16-25, while 1.5 per cent are under 16 age group, 45 per cent in the age group between 26 and 50 and 42 per cent are students.
Referring to a CAG report, the OMMA stated that while the percentage of conviction is registered between five and eight in excise cases, the accused are acquitted in 92-95 per cent excise cases.
Similarly, while the annual population growth was registered 1.4 per cent since 2006 till 2011, the annual growth of liquor was 62.76 per cent in beer, 48.15 per cent in foreign liquor and 31.70 per cent in country liquor during the period. Despite the issue was raised in the Assembly to control selling of liquor across the State, the Government has continued to hike its percentage of sale.
Official record shows that while 42 per cent of women in the State are becoming victims of sexual harassment and other atrocities, 60 per cent women suffer from anaemia, 67 per cent under age group of 5 in malnutrition and anaemia. However, alcohol is the principal reason behind it, the OMMA said.
While the State Government had announced to set up liquor-free villages under Section 9 of the State Youth Policy, no such move has been initiated so far, alleged the OMMA convenor Pramila Swain.
And large-scale consumption and selling of liquor also triggers poverty, corruption, violence, crime and diseases, she stated.