THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government’s plan to entrust excise department with the responsibility of organising anti-liquor and drug awareness programme has drawn flak from activists. “A separate wing has been set up under the excise department to create awareness against alcoholism and drugs. The irony here is the excise wing that controls the sale of liquor is chosen create awareness against alcoholism,” said an activist.
An independent body which cannot be influenced by liquor lobby should be entrusted with the responsibility of such campaigns,” said an activist. Excise, forest and police officials are enforcement authorities to check bootleggers and peddlers. While Social justice departments look after awareness, Health department takes up rehabilitation and de-addiction elsewhere. However, in Kerala, excise itself was running around 11 de-addiction centres.
Around Rs 600 crore central fund was available for awareness campaigns and government plans to spend Rs 100 crore from this. The LDF government has recently rechristened the past government’s ‘Subodham’ de-addiction awareness programme to ‘Vimukti’. “Religious organisations will protest against the hollowness of the new de-addiction scheme,” he added.
