Adivasi women in villages of Adilabad destroyed bottles of adulterated toddy liquor in the belt shops in Talamadugu mandal and claimed that the shops that sold these liquor bottles were being operated illegally without permission.
A recent report by The New Indian Express stated that the Adivasi women in the Umbri and Kosai villages in Talamadugu mandal, Adilabad destroyed several adulterated toddy liquor bottles. The report stated that these women demanded the government to remove these shops from agency areas in the district. Additionally, the report revealed that the Adivasi women claimed that these shops targeted the Adivasi communities, selling them adulterated liquor. According to the Adivasi women, this adulterated liquor has led to the youth losing their lives and several others falling sick. The Adivasi women have also allegedly submitted many complaints to the excise officials, but no action has been taken by the authorities yet.
Further, the report stated that there is a constant increase in the number of belt shops and toddy liquor shops in every colony across the Adilabad district. However, the issue has been repeatedly neglected by the excise officials. This negligence has caused the village youth to consume adulterated liquor, which results in unconsciousness and health problems. The excise officials are yet to conduct an inspection of toddy liquor to ascertain the genuineness of the liquor and to decide whether it is adulterated or not.
Godam Ganesh, the working president of the Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samithi (Thudum Debba), has warned that if the excise officials fail to take action against these shops and the adulterated liquor bottles, there will be protests across the state.
