Second phase of 'addiction-free India' rally in December

BHOPAL: Social activists Medha Patkar and Dr Sunilam on Wednesday announced the second phase of "Addiction-free India" rally across the country from December 6.
The announcement came at the closing ceremony of its first phase at Gandhi Bhawan here. In the second phase of rally, the team and the people fighting against liquor business and its impact will cover 10 states across the country and 25 districts across Madhya Pradesh.The states will include Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana Delhi, and Hyderabad, where they will be covering schools and colleges. Besides, several meetings with affected families and women who are struggling due to impact of liquor will be conducted. Besides, legal aid will be provided to the people in need.
The programme was attended by around 1000 people from 15 states on Wednesday. National coordinator Sunilam said, "Bihar has set up a model by banning liquor in the state and every state should follow it by imposing imprisonment of five years and Rs 5 lakh penalty. If Madhya Pradesh authorities don't wake up to the deteriorating scenario now, no one can stop the state from the scourge of drug addiction in next 5 years." He said the prime minister should award MPs and MLAs for making their adopted villages "liquor free and addiction free".
The next phase of the drive will start in Bhopal from December 25 to cover other districts. Activists present at the closing ceremony of the first phase said, "A chapter on impact of liquor should be added in school syllabus."
Medha Patkar while talking about her drive to root out the liquor addiction said, "Every coming election in the states will have de-addiction on their agenda list."