VCK Meet urges the union government to frame a national policy on liquor ban

“Although he had reservations about many of Gandhi’s ideologies, including his views on caste, the decision to hold the conference only on his birth anniversary was taken because he stood for two principles: secularism and prohibition,” he added.

It is the contention of caste Hindus that oppressed communities need liquor to survive due to the nature of their work.

“This stereotyping of Dalit and tribal people in their work and thereby justifying the sale of liquor is a caste-based idea and we at this conference strongly oppose such theories and call for a total ban to maximize the potential of to retain the people who would otherwise be exhausted in this vicious loop of liquor and drug mafia,” he said.

Senior leaders RS Bharati and TKS Elangovan of DMK represented their party in support of the conference.

“The Tamil language is the only classical language in the world that has the legacy of women poets, and most of our women poets in Tamil literature have spoken about the ill effects of liquor. A person who wants to live a life of self-respect should give up drinking and I fully support the cause of this women-led conference,” Elangovan said.

Women leaders from CPI, CPI(M), INC, MDMK, MMK and TVK were at the forefront during the conference.

Annie Raja of CPI said, “This conference, led by millions of women, will definitely see the light of day. We will cherish the victory of abolishing liquor and drugs, just like the women fighters of the freedom struggle.”

Muthulakshmi Veerapan of TVK stated that boys and men should enforce military self-discipline when it comes to alcohol and ganja. “The men need to realize this and give up alcohol and have better families,” she added.

12 resolutions

• Explain the ban as national police as stated in Article 47 of the Constitution

• Special funds for state governments that implement bans

• More money to implement the ban

• Establish a ban inquiry committee

• Announcing a timetable for a total ban

• Taking concrete measures to control drug trafficking

• Involving women SHGs in anti-alcohol campaign

• Setting up de-addiction centers in all government hospitals

• Setting up rehabilitation centers at taluk level

• Providing alternative jobs for Tasmac workers

• Pass a resolution in the state assembly

• All parties are invited to participate in the ban campaign