Rich reward

Sir - Bihar became a dry state four days after the promulgation of a partial ban on country liquor on April 1 ("Dry facts", April 6). This step taken by the Nitish Kumar government is bold and laudable. Kumar would do well to introduce more welfare initiatives in the state instead of going back to baiting the prime minister, Narendra Modi. Kumar had become unpopular because of his constant criticism of Modi. The ban on liquor would help Kumar regain his popularity.

A total ban on liquor will go a long way in improving people's health. Bihar is a backward state. The youth can now concentrate on education instead of alcohol. Other states, too, should emulate the example set by Bihar.

But a few areas of concern remain. Nira, unlike toddy, has not been banned. Nira is a drink extracted from palm trees before sunrise. Toddy, on the other hand, is obtained when the liquid gets fermented. The 1991 guidelines that prohibit the sale and consumption of Nira within 50 metres of hospitals, educational institutions and places of worship appear to have been ignored.

The implementation of prohibition will bring about improvement in the state. If prohibition were to be imposed all over the country, it would also lead to a fall in criminal activities. The plight of manufacturers cannot be more important than the welfare of the people.

Yours faithfully,
K.V. Seetharamaiah,
Hassan, Karnataka

Sir - The chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, must be lauded for announcing a ban on the sale of liquor in the state. Addiction to alcohol has been a major concern for women in Bihar due to its adverse impacts on domestic life. Kumar has now fulfilled the promise he made to the women voters even though the ban will lead to a heavy loss for the exchequer and upset a section of the male voters. This reform was made possible because of the tireless efforts made by the women of the state. The ban also reflects the state government's seriousness to improve the lives of the people and save women and society from the curse of alcohol. It is not only women who have to bear the consequences: the ill-effects of alcohol also leave an indelible impact on children.

Prohibition restricts a source of leisure and enjoyment for some people and infringes on personal liberty. But it may not cut down consumption since alcohol bought from other states can be sold illegally in Bihar to meet the huge demand. The Bihar government may have been inspired by Kerala while initiating this welfare measure. It needs to compensate the people whose livelihood depends on the sale of liquor. It is the responsibility of the government to provide a suitable alternative to those who will lose their jobs due to the ban. The government should also stop wasting public money on purchasing lavish gifts for politicians. This money should be used for developmental purposes. Prohibition will stop physical violence against women. There is a need to introduce prohibition in other states to save families from ruin.

Yours faithfully,
Janga Bahadur Sunuwar,
Bagrakote, Jalpaiguri

Sir - Nitish Kumar's move to impose prohibition in Bihar is praiseworthy. The chief minister has shown courage in taking this decision considering the loss of revenue that will be incurred by the exchequer. The monetary loss for the state is acceptable given the benefits that people and their families would get from this welfare measure. If prohibition is enforced strictly, it will bring down the crime rate and reduce domestic violence. The money spent on consuming liquor will be saved. It would bring prosperity to poor families. Other state governments should emulate Bihar, the fourth state after Nagaland, Manipur and Gujarat to ban the sale of any kind of liquor. The Union government should also think of a blanket ban on liquor save for areas that have a cold climate.

The chief minister has promised that the government will provide better employment opportunities to those who have been rendered jobless due to the ban. The government should also create alternative avenues of income for the other sectors that are likely to be adversely affected as a result of the liquor ban. Prohibition is being criticized because of poor labourers losing their jobs in liquor factories. Should pilferage then be made legal out of consideration for those who break the law? In West Bengal, not only liquor but also state lotteries must be prohibited to save numerous destitute families from impending ruin.

Yours faithfully,
Buddhadev Nandi,
Bishnupur, Bankura

Parting shot

Sir - The editorial, "Public goods" (April 1), points out correctly that "[l]aying down the law can be quite a rewarding exercise". This is especially true in the case of public representatives. Legislators in Telangana have prescribed for themselves a magnificent raise in pay, making them the highest paid lawmakers in the country. Law-makers are empowered to raise their own salaries. All legislators, including members of the opposition, are unanimous when it comes to passing resolutions to raise their salaries. There should be limits on how much their salaries can be raised based on the social and economic conditions of a state at any given time. Last year, legislators in Delhi did the same thing, unabashedly thinking only of themselves and not the aam aadmi. The bitter truth is that politicians these days consider self-interest before public welfare.

Yours faithfully,
Govinda Bakshi,
Budge Budge