Women's bodies flay Manipur govt's decision on prohibition

IMPHAL, July 8?The decision of the State Cabinet to lift the prohibition from the five hill districts of Manipur in an effort to raise the State?s revenue, has led to a widespread opposition from rural bodies, particularly from the women?s organisation based in the hill areas. The State Cabinet took a decision to lift the ban on sale and consumption of Indian-make foreign liquor from the hill areas on June 5 last. However, bodies like Naga Women Union, Manipur, strongly opposed the government?s move to the ban, saying, ?why only in the hill areas.? The president of the Union and prominent Naga Women leader Gina Shangkham said, ? I don?t know the logic behind the move, only in the hill areas leaving behind the rest.? On the question of revenue earnings, another Tangkhul Naga women leader Mrs Valley Rose, who edits a Tangkhul dialect vernacular daily in Imphal said, ?The expectation of the government will not come true, as almost all hill people have their home brewed liquor-such as rice beer.? Naga Women Union Manipur Gina told the The Assam Tribune that ?while we?re trying to bring about some changes among the people it should not be done only in hill areas. It?s not that we can stop completely a person from drinking, but sole limitations should be on them. Echoing the same feeling, a Zeliangrang Naga Women leader Arous Pamei said. ?The decision might be taken due to lack of moral responsibility in the government.? Though there is no formal intimation to the government from the Naga bodies an apex body of Kuki-Chi-Mizo students in the district submitted a memorandum to the State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi not to lift the prohibition only in the hill areas. It said, ?if revenue be the case why not lift the ban in this most populated areas of the State where more revenue can be collected.?