Opening liquor shops will increase crimes against women: Activists

May 4, 2020
New Delhi: As India entered phase-3 of the lockdown on Monday due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, women who already face domestic violence may have to suffer more for the government’s decision to open liquor shops, according to women’s rights activists.

Speaking to IANS, social activist and Director of the Centre for Social Research (CSR), Dr. Ranjana Kumari said, “According to the government’s own National Family Health survey data, there is a direct link between alcohol use and violence by men. So certainly it will escalate. Already there are two times more cases of domestic violence reported to the NCW.”

She added that there was a rise in the number of women calling for help. “We have also received more calls at our counselling centre than usual. In the past 30 days we have received 27 calls. Opening liquor shops may be a revenue generating thing but at a time when people have lost their jobs, incomes have gone down there is already economic stress in the families, alcohol is not the best choice that the government is giving to the people. It will cut into the economy of the family in terms of using money. Instead of buying better health products men will use money in buying alcohol,” Kumari said.

Another women’s rights activist Shamina Shafiq told IANS that there are chances that women and children will fall prey to domestic violence due to alcohol consumption by men. “This is hundred percent true. The government is already insensitive towards the rights of women now this step will add to the plight of women and children who face domestic violence. We already saw a rise in such cases in lockdown one and two and now in lockdown 3.0, it will be even worse. Men who are alcoholic, will snatch the money that women have saved for difficult times and will buy liquor. They will get drunk and will beat women and children at home.” said Shafiq.

She added that “people are already facing financial difficulty these days. They are already frustrated due to various reasons like job loss, financial problems etc. This will just add fuel to the fire. They will vent it all out on women and kids. I fail to understand what is stopping the government to lay down guidelines for security forces for taking cognizance of such crimes? Why can’t they just go and check homes where such cases are frequent?” asked Shafiq.

Another women’s rights activist Yogita Bhayana told IANS that it is a strange decision taken by the government. She said this will not just escalate crimes against women and children but also other kinds of crimes like snatching, robberies etc.

“I don’t understand how the government considers alcohol as essential service? Addiction can never be essential. In fact this lockdown situation was a perfect opportunity for the government to utilise it for de-addiction.”

Bhayana said the government could only think of it as a revenue generation source but did not notice what benefits there are from its closure. “If this source of revenue generation has been given an opportunity why not others?” she asked. “Whenever we talk about domestic or sexual violence it is directly related to liquor. During lockdown the violence on women multiplied. When a woman is between the four walls with her abuser, violence against women will aggravate.”

She added that crimes like marital rapes may increase. “Liquor consumption can cause more marital rapes as well. Even poor states have witnessed crowds outside liquor shops. I don’t know from where they are getting money during this economic stress to buy alcohol. This is pure hypocrisy. Not just this, addicts may steal jewellery or other precious things and will beat women for money. I agree that it is one of the highest revenue generating item but the government is not seeing how many murders, rapes and other crimes happen due to alcohol.” IANS

IS claims 1st Indian suicide bomber was Keralite Christian converted to Islam; agencies begin probe

Thiruvananthapuram: The Central intelligence agencies have commenced a probe after an article in the IS mouthpiece 'Voice of Koharasan' mentioned that 'the first Indian suicide bomber for them was a Keralite...

IT sleuths seized our phones, cloned data, claim Oxfam, IPSMF

Days after the Income Tax Department carried out “surveys action” at their premises, Oxfam India and the Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF) alleged that the I-T personnel confiscated phones...

ISI & Khalistani connections of Goldy Brar, Bishnoi

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) The NIA sources have said that Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi gangs have contacts with Canada-based Khalistani elements and Pakistan-based ISI agents, and these gangs were...

Home Ministry all set to ban PFI after studying possible legal challenges

New Delhi: Days after the NIA and the ED raided several locations linked to the Popular Front of India (PFI) across the country, the Union Home Ministry is planning to...

Centre bans PFI, all its affiliates for 5 years. Here are key reasons

After two rounds of nationwide raids and arrests of over 240 members, the Centre on Wednesday banned the contentious Popular Front of India (PFI) and all its affiliates, excluding the...

Hundreds of jail police personnel go on mass CL in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Hundreds of police personnel serving at various jails in Gujarat on Wednesday went on a mass casual leave demanding a pay hike at par with other police personnel and State...

Shia leaders demand death for Hafiz Saeed, seek justice for 26/11 victims

Lucknow: The All India Shia Husaini Fund members have demanded justice for the 26/11 Mumbai attack victims by hanging its mastermind, Hafiz Saeed. Shia religious leaders and intellectuals from different...

IIT-K panel to decide if Faiz poem is anti-Hindu

Kanpur, Jan 1 (IANS) In a seemingly bizarre development, the IIT in Kanpur has set up a panel to decide whether the poem "Hum dekhenge lazim hai ki hum bhi...

No internet in Kashmir hospitals despite govt claim

Jan 2, 2019 Srinagar:  Despite government's claim that Internet has been restored in most hospitals and health centres in Kashmir, the facility is yet to be restored in most hospitals....

Millions in sub-Saharan Africa need life-saving food aid: UN

Dec 2, 2020 Rome, Jan 2 (IANS/AKI) Millions of people will require life-saving food assistance in sub-Saharan Africa in the first half of this year amid surging hunger levels that...

RSS ideologue for removing ‘secular’ from Constitution preamble

  Jan 3, 2020 New Delhi:  "Sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic" is how India is referred to in the preamble of the Constitution. However, J. Nandakumar, a key RSS leader...

IIT-K tries to dilute Faiz controversy but probe still on

Jan 3, 2019 Kanpur: IIT-Kanpur is apparently caught in a bind over its decision to order a probe into whether poem "Hum dekhenge", written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, is anti-Hindu...

Read Previous

Modi attacks Pak,over terror during pandemic at NAM web-summit

Read Next

Increasing green spaces in cities may prevent premature deaths

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com