In a bold move to reclaim peace and safety in their community, a group of determined women in a Sundargarh village have taken matters into their own hands by imposing strict community-enforced penalties against the sale and consumption of alcohol. The residents of Ghoghar village under the Balishankara block have declared that from the New Year, anyone violating their self-imposed prohibition will face severe financial and social consequences.
Strict New Rules to Curb Alcohol Menace
The new regulations, announced by the protesting women, are a direct response to what they describe as years of suffering. The rules impose a hefty fine of Rs 10,000 for anyone involved in the sale of liquor within the village. For individuals found consuming alcohol, the penalty is set at Rs 2,000. The women have warned that violators may also face social boycott and even physical punishment, underscoring the seriousness of their campaign.
Armed with sticks and raising slogans against liquor, the women explained that their drastic measures are necessary to protect families from further distress. They cited a long list of social ills fueled by excessive drinking, including men frequently skipping work, a rise in theft incidents, constant quarrels within households, and young people following the negative example of their elders.
Unbearable Distress Leads to Collective Action
Villager Pushpanjali Suniani shared the grim reality that pushed the community to act. She stated that liquor-related problems had become completely unbearable, with daily disputes plaguing every home. "There are daily disputes in every house to the extent of a recent death owing to excessive drinking," Suniani revealed. She added that some men, in a drunken state, have resorted to stealing. The women's central demand is for the immediate shutdown of the liquor vend operating in the village.
Another resident, Sebanti Guru, said the situation had reached a breaking point. She described how men were selling essential household stocks like paddy and rice just to buy liquor, completely disrupting family life. "To live in peace, we had to bring this rule," Guru asserted, calling for government intervention to close the liquor outlet immediately.
Unified Front with Official Support
Echoing the sentiments, Sukhi Suniani blamed the local *bhatti* (liquor outlet) for causing immense harm since it started operations. "All the women have united to continue this protest," she declared, reiterating the fines and warning of consequences for any rule-breakers.
The women's decisive stand has found support from local authorities. Balishankara gram panchayat sarpanch Sulochana Suari publicly endorsed the movement, stating, "I fully back the demand and the stand taken by the women of Ghoghar village." This official backing adds significant weight to their community-led initiative, highlighting the depth of the crisis and the widespread desire for change in the rural area of Odisha.
