Gadchiroli Village Implements Liquor Ban with Penalties, Ration Card Cancellations A village in Gadchiroli district, Kotgal, has enacted a strict ban on liquor, accompanied by penalties for violators, including the cancellation of ration cards and disqualification from government welfare schemes. The decision was inspired by similar anti-liquor measures in Bamanpalli, where villagers imposed fines on liquor traders to address domestic violence. The funds generated from penalties were allocated for community development projects. The Gram Sabha in Kotgal recently passed a resolution aimed at transforming the village into a model liquor-free community. Under the new rules, anyone found selling or distributing liquor will face penalties, lose their ration card, and be barred from participating in government welfare programs. Additionally, criminal cases will be registered against offenders through a dispute resolution committee and police involvement. Residents who provide credible information about illegal liquor sellers or brewers will receive a cash reward of Rs3,000, with the identities of informants kept confidential. Women from the village played a leading role in the initiative, highlighting the impact of alcohol abuse on families. They emphasized that alcohol addiction among men has led to frequent domestic disputes, abuse, and health issues, straining family incomes and well-being. The Gram Sabha meeting, attended by panchayat members, NGO representatives, police officials, and villagers, underscored the community’s commitment to addressing the problem. Kotgal, with a population of around 3,300 across 820 households, has faced significant challenges due to alcohol-related issues. The village is now being recognized as an example of grassroots action against liquor abuse in the district.#gadchiroli_district #bamanpalli #kotgal_village #gram_sabha #panchayat
Gadchiroli Villagers Impose ₹20,000 Fine On Booze Sellers, ₹1,000 On Wife Beaters, Fines Collected To Fund Village Development Nagpur: In Bamanpalli, a remote tribal village in Maharashtra’s Bhamragarh taluka, residents have taken decisive action to ban alcohol, imposing fines on sellers and perpetrators of domestic violence. The village, located near the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border, has long struggled with the social and economic fallout of liquor abuse, including frequent brawls, domestic violence, and poverty that has hindered children’s education and health. The decision to enforce a liquor ban came after years of turmoil, including guerrilla threats and security operations, which left the community in a state of fear. Now, the villagers aim to rebuild by creating a liquor-free zone and using the fines collected to fund development projects. The village’s gram sabha, a gathering of all adult residents, voted to implement the ban, establishing a local committee to enforce the rules. Under the new policy, anyone caught selling alcohol faces a fine of ₹20,000, while individuals involved in wife-beating or violent incidents under the influence of liquor must pay ₹1,000. Those who support or protect bootleggers will be fined ₹2,000. Incentives are also in place: informants who report liquor sales receive ₹5,000, with the proceeds allocated to repair schools, improve healthcare facilities, repair roads, and enhance village infrastructure. Local farmer Sadashiv Nilam emphasized the urgency of the ban, stating that alcohol had eroded the community’s stability. “Breadwinners are wasting their savings on booze. Fights break out at night, families fall apart, and trust is the biggest casualty,” he said.#maharashtra #bhamragarh_taluka #bamanpalli #sadashiv_nilam #subham_shinde
