The tribals of Bileimunda in Sundargarh district have been holding an anti-liquor agitation for more than nine months, but in vain. Sundargarh Collector has recently written to the Additional Secretary (Excise) to accord permission for further renewal of licence of liquor shops in district for a further period of five months because Gram Sabha cannot be convened because of model code of conduct.
The villagers of Garjanjor panchayat under Hemgiri Tehsil are holding the agitation demanding shifting of a local country liquor shop and a beer parlor. A relay hunger strike has been continuing there since April 1.
During the hunger strike, Hemgiri Tehsildar lalat Kumar luha and Hemgiri police officials had discussed with the protesters and urged them to withdraw the strike, but in vain. The villagers had discarded a Gram Sabha in protest against the apathy. On May 8, a large number of women had staged a rally on the Mother’s Day and took oath to drive out liquor from the village. A 12-member team under the banner of Bileimunda Grambasi and Anchalbasi in Sundargarh had met the district Collector on May 9, but district Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia had refused to fulfil their demand. On May 24, Under Secretary to the Governor of Odisha had written to the Sundargarh Collector to submit action taken report on the petition. Since the district administration has not yet taken any action for eviction of the liquor shop and beer parlor from the place.
A two-member team of protesters had gone to New Delhi during the month of August and had submitted a memorandum in the office of National Commission for SCs and the National Commission for STs. The protesters had also sent their memorandum to the President and the Prime Minster but their demands are yet to be fulfilled.