TM Lotha says no partial prohibition
DIMAPUR, DEC 6 (MExN): If you’re one who enjoys a drink, Kisama is the place. The picturesque hamlet-host to the Hornbill Festival- offers an array of traditional brew. IMFL is sold too, but in a more discreet manner. ‘Dzutse’, the favoured drink, is placed at Rs 20 a glass while ‘zutho’ which is less potent than the aforementioned drink will cost you Rs 10. Chinese made canned beer is also doing the rounds. Evenings are the opportune moments for vendors to capitalize on the ‘business’ as this is when the hip-hop generation and those who are not averse to alcohol throng Kisama. Most are of the belief that if consumed moderately, traditionally brewed beer is not a companion of bad health. One can sip dzutse in a carved out dry gourd serving as a mug.
The liquid celebrations, though, does not bring a smile to the Church. Reverend Zhabu Terhüja, General Secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) says, “We feel very uneasy over what is taking place.” The NBCC had earlier wanted to tell the government to look into the matter but could not do so as their committee members are scattered in different places. “This (drinking) projects a bad image of the Nagas,” Zhabu says.
The lifting of the ban on the sale of liquor would generate more revenue to the state’s coffers. However, the government cannot go ahead with such a move because of the flak it would draw from pressure groups such as the NBCC and the Naga Mothers’ Association. Upon being asked if the government was contemplating on going ahead with the implementation of partial prohibition of liquor in Nagaland, Health and Family Welfare minister Dr TM Lotha said that it was either total prohibition or no prohibition at all. “There is no middle way,” he said. As of now, the government does not seem to be in a hurry to lift prohibition.
The Committee on Estimates (CE) had earlier recommended measures for the government to take towards the ‘effective implementation of partial prohibition’ in the State
The Committee in its 79th Report on the Estimate of the Excise Department (Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act-1989) had stated that limited numbers of licenses for sale of liquor, only during limited time and day may be issued. However, this should be made after proper verification of age of applicant and location of shop.
For effective implementation of partial prohibition, the Committee had also recommended that reputed hotels and restaurants may be issued with licenses to sell, consumption be done within the hotel precincts, while the quality of alcohol be strictly checked and controlled, dry days strictly observed and those not adhering to rules be imposed with fines or have their licenses seized.
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