Kohima, March 10: The Church and most organisations in Nagaland are divided on total prohibition. At a seminar held here recently, representatives of non-governmental organisations, the Church, the excise department, media and law-enforcing agencies debated on the success of prohibition in the state.
They all admitted that the policy had failed as liquor flows freely in the state. But while many government and non-governmental organisations softened their stand, others continued to take a hard line.
Organisations like the Naga Students Federation (NSF), the Nagaland Tourism Association and even police, erstwhile supporters of the prohibition, suggested ?partial lifting? of the ban. However, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) re-affirmed its stand on strengthening the act and continued to stand for total prohibition.
The participants concluded with the decision that a meeting of the estimates committee should be held soon where it would submit a report on the pros and cons of partial lifting of the liquor ban. The committee comprises members of political parties from the ruling alliance.
?We are neither against nor for prohibition. We are just examining the policy,? said committee chairman S. Hukavi.
Earlier, NSF representatives said a ?regulated form? of prohibition with guidelines and monitoring mechanisms was more pragmatic. It maintained that the act had not really stopped alcoholics from drinking because of availability of liquor. Federation president Achumbemo Kikon said total prohibition was a failure because it was not feasible. ?Let us find out some other mechanism,? said its general secretary Neizokhoto Belho.
On the other hand, representatives of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council strongly supported the policy. They insisted that the government should implement the act in letter and spirit. Rev. V.K. Nuh claimed that alcoholism had come down.
Earlier, chief minister Neiphiu Rio had assured the Church that his government would back total prohibition.
Prohibition has been a contentious issue in the state and the issue was discussed in the Assembly in December last year. Many of the legislators had suggested a partial lifting.