Self-help groups to get Rs1L for making a village alcohol-free: CM

PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday, praised the self-help groups for creating public awareness against alcohol consumption and working under the umbrella of 'Jeevika'. Speaking at a function organized by the excise and prohibition department and Bihar State Beverages Corporation, he said they are part of a 'silent revolution' and announced a cash prize of Rs1 lakh to each such group for abolishing alcoholism in one village.

The CM said the state government has declared November 26 as 'Madya Nishedh Diwas'. To mark the occasion, special 'anti-alcohol' awareness programmes are organized across the state. The CM said he was happy to see the response of students in these programmes.

Reiterating the state policy to give a double blow to alcoholism, Nitish said the government, on the one hand, increased the taxes on alcohol significantly and, on the other, created public awareness against it. "The revenue of state excise department in 2005 was Rs319 crore, which rose to Rs2,431 crore in 2012-13. The target for the current financial year is Rs3,200 crore," the CM said.

He also trashed the speculations regarding significant increase in the number of alcoholics in the state and said the increase in revenue did not mean increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The figures only represent the efficient revenue management system in the state along with its zero tolerance 
policy on revenue leakage, he added.

Nitish also said the state government did not increase the number of wine shops in the state. He also affirmed that country-made liquor would be sold in pet-bottles and the use of pouch would be prohibited.

Excise and prohibition minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said quitting alcohol needs strong willpower. People should refrain from this evil if they aspire for a developed and prosperous society, he added.

TOI, Patna

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