The TN government has decided to reopen liquor shops in the State from tomorrow, May 7. Condemning this, many political parties and women's organisations including AIDWA have expressed their disapproval against reopening of liquor shops.
Coimbatore: Several political parties and women organisations including the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) have vehemently opposed the decision by the State government for permitting TASMACs to operate from May 7.
The decision has sparked controversy as maintaining social distancing norms and cleanliness is highly questionable and those visiting the TASMACs can become potent carriers of COVID infection.
More than 55,000 people have been affected by COVID-19, all over the country. Over the past few days, TN has been recording over 500 COVID positivecases per day and feared to have nearing the community spread stage. In this unprecedented situation, providing levy to open liquor shops is highly condemnable and can attribute to spread of the virus, the AIDWA members pointed.
Citing that States that opted to open liquor outlets are struggling to sensitise tipplers on social distancing norms. Police had to resort to the use of lathis to get control over the crowds at TASMAC outlets in Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra and Karnataka.
Criticising the government's explantion on reopening of TASMACs which says that the decision had to be taken tocontrol people venturing into neighbouring states to buy alcohol, the AIDWA alleged, if the government is unable to control the crowds crossing the border, how could they control the crowds and maintain social distancing in the 7,000 TASMAC shops in the state, they questioned.
Referring to the financial crunch experienced by the poorer sections of the society, due to closure of industries, the AIDWA urged the government to focus on lending a helping hand to such vulnerable groups instead of opening TASMACs.
The National Women's Commission and the State Women's Commission have announced that domestic violence on women has increased during the lockdown period. Without alcohol, if the numbers were high then the number of domestic violence cases will only increase after the liquor stores are opened, opined AIDWA.
Hence, keeping in mind the welfare of the society, the government must consider the closure of all liquor shops in the state, petitioned AIDWA. The petition was submitted to the District Collector, K Rajamani.