Uttarakhand: There will be ‘chutan and kutai’ for entering these villages after drinking alcohol… no one is responsible! This anti-liquor board came in discussions

There are many such villages in the state, where liquor has been completely banned in marriages. In this sequence, Bhattidhar village located in Garhwal has come a step ahead and put up some boards from the village road to the main intersections of the village, which are now in discussions. It is clearly written on the board that if any person enters the village in the state of alcohol or intoxication, he will be beaten up. The good thing is that since the installation of this board, the youth and the elders here have stopped consuming alcohol.

Initiative taken by Bhattidhar village

About 25 families live in Bhattidhar village, a few kilometers away from the Bharadisain assembly building in Chamoli district. Earlier the number of families here was more, but at present this village of about 25 families is very happy and beautiful. President of Mahila Mangal Dal, Basanti Devi said that some elders and some youths in the village had become addicted to alcohol, due to which there used to be quarrels in the families. The situation was that if there was a procession or a program from outside in the village, then people used to drink alcohol and create ruckus late in the night. The environment of the village was deteriorating due to such activities.

Basanti Devi tells that the environment of the village was deteriorating and no one was able to understand what to do in such a situation. Then the experienced people of the village took legal advice in this regard and started this initiative. Now there is a fear among the people that if the news of fighting or drinking comes from anywhere, action will be taken against them.

Plan to install board like this

Taking the matter further, local resident Kishan Ram told that, looking at the atmosphere in the village, a team of his had reached the nearby police station and lawyer to seek advice. The villagers told him their plan that if such boards are installed in the village, then the problem of alcohol will be solved to a great extent. Even people coming from outside will not do this. He told that a group has also been formed, which immediately reaches the concerned person on such incidents. The good thing is that after installing the board in the village, now such initiative has been started in many villages. There are many nearby villages where similar boards have been put up.

Liquor banned in Uttarkashi as well

In Uttarkashi district, efforts are being made to stop the growing trend of liquor in many villages of Ganga and Yamuna valley. In this episode, in the month of June last, in Matti village of Dunda development block, an initiative has been started by the villagers themselves to control drugs. An open meeting was organized under the chairmanship of Matti village head Sangeeta Panuli, in which the villagers have decided that liquor will not be served in marriage ceremonies or any other public function. Violation of the rule will attract a fine of ₹ 5100. If needed, legal action will also be taken.

Village head Sangeeta Panuli said that due to alcohol, the atmosphere gets spoiled in marriage or other functions. The youth are also getting attracted towards this addiction. Drug addicts beat and harass women in the house every day. The entire geographical boundary of Matti village has been declared as liquor prohibited area. Strict action will also be taken against those selling liquor within the village limits or serving liquor at functions. Legal action will be taken if this rule of Panchayat is broken. The administration has also been informed about this proposal.

Will have to pay a fine of 55 thousand for coming after drinking alcohol in the village

Not only in Garhwal, but also in Pithoragarh, the border district of Kumaon, rural women have formed a group and prepared a complete plan to take action against those who drink alcohol. However, this exercise had started in this village from the year 2022 itself. In Berinag’s Vaishali Gram Panchayat, the women had taken a meeting and decided that no intoxicant will be consumed by men or women in any marriage, birthday and deities’ events. If someone does this, then he can be evicted from the village, as well as a fine of ₹ 55000 will have to be paid. Pradhan Rekha Devi took a meeting with the women and decided that if someone in the village indulges in a brawl or fights in the house after drinking alcohol, the Gram Panchayat has made a provision to collect ₹ 51000 from him. On the other hand, for indecency with those who collect the fine, that family will be socially boycotted by the Gram Panchayat and the Vyas Rishi Mela Committee.