Will sensitize tea workers on the menace of illicit liquor: CM

Guwahati: In the aftermath of the hooch tragedy which claimed 155 lives across Jorhat and Golaghat districts, the Assam government will start a campaign from March 7 to sensitize tea garden workers about the menace of illicit liquor.
Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said government officials will be deployed to transform the lifestyles of the tea garden workers so that they shun the habit of drinking illegal alcohol.

Speaking at a government function here on Tuesday, Sonowal said that the state government will undertake an initiative to ensure that the tea garden workers do not come under the influence of illicit liquor. “In order to ensure that they (tea garden workers) shun the habit of consuming illicit liquor, you (government officers) will have to carry out a vigorous sensitizing drive in the tea gardens to bring health consciousness among them,” Sonowal said.

He added that while the state government, through its various agencies, will keep an eye on the progress reports on the sensitization drive, labour welfare officers who come up with exemplary results will be honoured with the chief minister’s award for transforming the lives of the tea labourers.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Assam government has already ordered a ban on molasses which are often used in preparation of spurious liquor in the tea garden areas of upper Assam. Health experts have said that there is strong possibility of the victims of hooch tragedy having consumed poisonous methyl alcohol as most of the illicit liquor is prepared in unhygienic conditions, without taking into consideration the adverse health treats that it may pose for consumers.

The district administrations, mostly in upper Assam, have also swung into action to prevent manufacturing of illicit liquor with molasses. Many traders involved in trading molasses are under the radar of the police and the district administration, even as various organizations continue to destroy country liquor made of molasses by vandalizing illicit liquor dens. In Guwahati city too, the excise officials have raided illicit liquor dens at several places on Tuesday to curb the flourishing trade.

Meanwhile, the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (Aasaa) said it would from Friday launch health awareness camps and bicycle rallies in the tea garden areas affected by the hooch tragedy.

Aasaa general secretary Joseph Minz said, “Only demolishing the illicit liquor dens will not serve the purpose. Considering the low health awareness among the tea garden workers, time has come for launching health awareness campaigns and medical check-ups on a massive scale in the tea garden areas. The underpaid tea garden workers have been the worst victims of illicit liquor.”