Khaira: Even as liquor has been allegedly proliferating in various parts of Khaira block in Balasore, casualties caused by hooch in Goliha panchayat are on the rise, a report said.
As night falls, chaos and quarrel become shriller in many villages in this panchayat, social activists lamented. Women and girls fear to venture out of their homes after evening due to menace of tipplers, it was alleged.
Sadly, hooch has claimed 36 lives in this area over last five years. The casualty figure is indicative of the spread of liquor and growing number of tipplers.
In 2018-19, hooch had taken lives of six people in Goliha and its neighbouring villages.
Aggrieved over the alarming spread of liquor and its resultant casualties, Goliha sarpanch Puspalata Ghadei with the help of her husband Ramesh Gjhadei has initiated efforts to make her panchayat free of liquor on Gandhi Jayanti.
Mahatma Gandhi had been advocating for prohibition of liquor to have a peaceful society, said the couple.
An awareness rally on prohibition of liquor was led by the sarpanch Wednesday morning to let people know about the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi.
Many intellectuals graced the rally at Melan Padia. Speaking on the occasion, Khaira IIC Lopamudra Nayak said efforts will be made to ban sale of liquor so that non-violence can be promoted.
Some excise officials welcomed such a step and assured people that they would help in curbing the flow of liquor in the area.
They sought cooperation of people to alert them about illegal liquor sale so that they could take quick action.
Many sarpanchs and people’s representatives from neighbouring panchayats lent support to the awareness rally.
