Molasses ban alone cannot stop liquor tragedies: Church people

Church leaders says regular monitoring and stern punishment for violations are essential.

Caption: Victims of Assam hooch tragedy being treated at a hospital in Golaghat district of Assam on Feb 25, 2019. (Photo: IANS)

Guwahati:  Assam has banned molasses, the key ingredient for making bootleg alcohol in the state’s tea gardens, but Church people doubt if the ban alone can stop repeat of liquor tragedies.

On March 4, within a fortnight after a liquor tragedy killed 160 people in the eastern state, the government run by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) banned sale and stocking of molasses in its efforts to stop liquor tragedies in future.

“We appreciate the government effort to check the menace,” said Bishop Joseph Aind of Dibrugarh diocese, which covers Jorhat and Golaghat districts that were hit by the tragedy on Feb. 21.

"Mere announcement of ban on molasses alone would not solve the problem,” the Bishop said.

Regular monitoring and stern punishment against violators are essential to keep the menace away, said Bishop Aind.

Besides claiming 160 lives, the tragedy also left some 350 people physically crippled. Several are blind, and scores live with permanently damaged liver, kidney and other internal organs.

Most affected were illiterate tea garden workers.

The dead include eight Catholics including two women. At least 54 Catholic suffered internal damages, including the two who are blinded, Church officials said.

“The biggest ever liquor tragedy” in the state have “shattered the people from all walks of life,” said Bishop Aind.

“Now, every right thinking people want to end the menace of brewing, stocking, distribution and consumption of such liquor,” the prelate told ucanews.com.

The bishop said the Church people have been fighting alcoholism in the area, where tea garden workers routinely take illicit drinks after their hard day’s work. Some of them then slip to alcoholism.

“We have always tried our best to create awareness among them to avoid it. The tragedy has left several families without bread-winners,” he said.

A local villager, who did not want to be named, told ucanews.com illicit brewing continued without any check until the molasses ban announced.

“The brewing and distribution of Sulai (the local name of the illicit liquor) was an open business here,” he said.

“Sulai is made from molasses, alum, often mixed with calcium carbide, urea and even used batteries among other things to add more intoxication” he adds.

He said “influential and well-connected people” are using locals to make money doing the illicit business. Although the government has banned molasses, “I doubt if the officials will follow it up with sincerity,” the villager said.

“The ban appears to be a mere eye wash,” he said.

Father G P Amalraj deputy secretary North-East Indian Regional Bishop’s Council too has welcomed the ban on molasses.

“It is high time that the government punished those involved in illegal distillation and its business. The ban alone will not serve the purpose unless officials act to implement it,” the priest told ucanews.com.

He said liquor tragedy was nothing new in the area, where tea garden workers have been drinking for over a century since British began tea cultivation here in 1840. It’s their main method of relaxation after the work, Father Amalraj said.

Diocesan Father Caesar Henry who works among the affected people told ucanews.com Catholic volunteers worked tirelessly to hospitalise the affected and buy medication.

“Most people have suffered damages because of their lack of awareness and lack of proper medical facilities in the hilly area,” the priest said.

Father Henry helped local people meet up with elected representatives from the areas in state legislative assembly demanding immediate deputation of a trained doctor to the area to treat people suffering form health complications because of the tragedy.

Assam has some 800 tea gardens, where mostly illiterate tribal and social poor dalit people work.

"They drink to get intoxicated, and are not bothered about quality. Also, they can’t afford to buy quality alcohol,” the priest said.

If the ban helps illicit liquor “disappear from the area, it will be a blessing for the tea garden workers and their families,” Father Henry said.

END