By Wangkheimayum Bhupendra Singh
An inebriated stupor reportedly cost two young Village Defence Force personnel their jobs over a petty issue as both stand as of now terminated from service. As was reported in the IFP today, the two had entered into a confrontation with tanker drivers at Mantripukhri and had fired from their service 303 rifles with one of the bullets injuring another person. Leaving aside the fact that the two were reportedly in a drunken stupor while on duty, the fact that needs to be highlighted is that two more youngsters and presumably their families have been affected by alcoholism. They may still be on the wrong side of the fence, but none the less alcohol had taken its toll. The report comes close on the heels of another alcohol related incident. About a week or so ago a man had also reportedly got into a fight with three of his friends after a drinking party. The man’s dead body was found the next day from near an oil pump at Chingmeirong. Alcoholism and abuse of other intoxicants create a breeding ground for all sorts of crimes, which, at this moment, seems to be the only growing aspect of the state.
A dry state status since 1991 under the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act (MLPA) 1991, unavailability of any brand of liquor in Manipur has never been an option, as bootlegging, coupled with the villages where the prohibition is exempted, ensures free flow of the high spirit throughout the year. It is never a surprise if one gets a bottle of high spirit, not in the least as surprising as when one fails to buy a bottle and such instances are very few and far between and occurs only when there is a temporary ban like during the run up to a high profile visit from the national capital. The prohibition is exempted in some villages like Sekmai, Andro and tribal populated pockets in Imphal on customary reasons. At this point, there are two schools of thought on the issue, one contemplating its legalization and the other standing for continuation of the prohibition. The debate has been going on with the recent state Assembly session even discussing its pros and cons. However, what could be more appropriate with the times, considering that the issue of legalizing it and continuing with the prohibition is likely to continue a lot longer than expected, could be finding ways to tackle the issue of alcoholism. Alcoholism, as any other issue, could not be contained or checked by merely implementing a ban or conducting raids and arresting defaulters. In fact, a halfhearted imposition of a prohibition, could even act as a catharsis for the younger lot who strive for the adrenaline rush of going against the tide. In order to encourage the state to recuperate from all such issues and herd the youth away from the problem, there is the need to first understand the issue. Life today is not what it used to be a few decades back when people could enjoy by just sitting together in the courtyard and lazing around. Whether we like to believe it or not, the race for development has already reached our society. Development, as we see it, has also encouraged human greed and we are not anymore amused by the simple ways of life. The idea of entertainment has also changed a lot, whereas, the state has remained stagnant when it comes to the presence of entertainment avenues. Considering the dire need of entertainment avenues today in the state, it is no big surprise that people especially the younger lot seem to be taking to the glass for a few hours of enjoyment and abandonment before life’s ups and downs come back haunting once again. Unemployment has also ensured that several individuals find solace in the bottle for their failure to achieve their perceived goals or better still a decent lifestyle.
The government needs to come up with some tricks up its sleeves in order to tackle the issue of alcoholism and cannot just remain indecisive about whether to lift the ban or continue with it. Indecisiveness, in any case, procreates problems, extending and delaying its solution, and the state has no luxury for such indulgence at the moment. Alcohol affects not only the drinker but his whole family at large which subsequently affects the society.