The anti-arrack movement in Andhra Pradesh drew the attention of the country to some serious issues. What were these issues?
Anti-arrack movement, a women’s movement was organised in the state of Andhra Pradesh against alcoholism. It targeted the strong nexus between the government and the mafia. The movement raised the following issues:
a. Women who were part of the Adult Literacy Drive complained of increased consumption of local alcohol arrack by men impacting their physical and mental health.
b. The continuous use of alcohol also economically and financially ruined the families.
c. Women also became target of domestic violence of men. Thus, for first time, issues regarding domestic violence were raised at a public platform, reinforcing the notion of ‘personal is political’.
d. Increased consumption of alcohol affected the rural economy of the region. Indebtedness grew with increasing scales of consumption of alcohol because of frequent absenteeism of men from jobs. The contractors of alcohol engaged in crime for securing their monopoly over the arrack trade.
e. The agitation by women resulted in the forced closure of the wine shop.
f. Later, women in other villages got inspired and met together in meetings, passed resolutions for imposing prohibition and sent them to the district collector for the ban on liquor.
g. Although the movement demanded ban on the sale of arrack, it raised larger social and economic issues, exposing a nexus between the mafia and the government.
h. It also discussed issues pertaining to domestic violence.
i. It focused on how women became the worst sufferers and targets of men’s oppression, suppression and faced inequalities.
j. Issues related to gender inequality, dowry and sexual violence were also raised.
k. It brought about increased mobilisation of women, resulting in the declaration of total prohibition of liquor in Andhra Pradesh. But the prohibition on arrack was withdrawn in 1994 as the state wanted additional revenue. However, the movement instilled a great confidence among the women, thereby, empowering them.
l. Later, due to increased pressures from women groups, reservation was provided for women in the local bodies; and domestic violence act was also passed.
a. Women who were part of the Adult Literacy Drive complained of increased consumption of local alcohol arrack by men impacting their physical and mental health.
b. The continuous use of alcohol also economically and financially ruined the families.
c. Women also became target of domestic violence of men. Thus, for first time, issues regarding domestic violence were raised at a public platform, reinforcing the notion of ‘personal is political’.
d. Increased consumption of alcohol affected the rural economy of the region. Indebtedness grew with increasing scales of consumption of alcohol because of frequent absenteeism of men from jobs. The contractors of alcohol engaged in crime for securing their monopoly over the arrack trade.
e. The agitation by women resulted in the forced closure of the wine shop.
f. Later, women in other villages got inspired and met together in meetings, passed resolutions for imposing prohibition and sent them to the district collector for the ban on liquor.
g. Although the movement demanded ban on the sale of arrack, it raised larger social and economic issues, exposing a nexus between the mafia and the government.
h. It also discussed issues pertaining to domestic violence.
i. It focused on how women became the worst sufferers and targets of men’s oppression, suppression and faced inequalities.
j. Issues related to gender inequality, dowry and sexual violence were also raised.
k. It brought about increased mobilisation of women, resulting in the declaration of total prohibition of liquor in Andhra Pradesh. But the prohibition on arrack was withdrawn in 1994 as the state wanted additional revenue. However, the movement instilled a great confidence among the women, thereby, empowering them.
l. Later, due to increased pressures from women groups, reservation was provided for women in the local bodies; and domestic violence act was also passed.
