Hostile demonstrations against liquor have been started by women. Be it Lucknow or Kushinagar or Hardoi for that matter, women of these places have not only stopped sale of liquor but have treated those who consume alcohol in such a way that they have forgotten to drink! There was such a massive effect of agitation against liquor by women in one of the villages of Hardoi Penates are now being treated with soft drinks instead of liquor.
Rahimabad’s Banjaran Khera village women say that they will not let liquor produced in the area nor they will let any alcoholic enter the village. After this declaration by the women of Banjaran Khera village, one NGO approached these women and appreciated their efforts. The NGO also assured the women of the village that the NGO stands by them (women). Police too is giving support to the women of this village. The campaign against the liquor and liquor consumers have gained momentum, thanks to those women of the Banjaran Khera village.
Police is making raids against illicit liquor on a regular basis because women of Banjaran Khera village reach the police station if Police is even slightly on its heels. Former Gram Pradhan has praised these women and has assured full support from his side.
Women in distress
Recently in Kushinagar, almost dozen people died consuming illicit liquor. Seeing this tragedy, the women of the deceased families have decided to teach a lesson to all those who consume liquor. Although they have an apprehension that they might as well get beaten by their liquorer husbands. One woman Chiraiyya of Javahi Dayal Chaun Patti village told Cheerrs.com that her husband beats her up after consuming liquor every day. Another lady Mamta told us, “My husband creates unwanted fuss every night when he came at home after taking liquor. But now we woman have decided to form a group and protest against their bad behavior. We will not serve them food as well.”Another woman Gangia says, “Now things have gone out of control. We will have to do something to stop our husbands from consuming liquor every evening.”
Lamunia, another woman from the village says, “We earn a little bit of money by fishing in the ponds and whatever little money we get by selling those fish in the market, our husbands take it and consume liquor.”
soft drinks instead of liquor
In some places there has been so much influence of Penates now being treated with soft drinks instead of liquor that it’s taken a toll on the religious beliefs as well. In order to reach to the Penates through liquor, the children future has been pushed to the dark. When things started to go out of hand, the women of this village not only decided to teach a lesson to the liquor consumer but also change the orthodox religious beliefs. And now this village is free of liquor and Penates are being treated with soft drinks.
This is the scene of Tadiava Vikas Khand’s Purva Devaria area of Hardoi district where there is a Majra, Natpurva, consists population of around 800 people. Here mostly ‘Nat’ sub-caste live. Their ancestral job is play music in wedding processions. Their Penate is Dada Chaturbhurj. Dada Chaturbhurj’s tomb is also situated in the village. Every year in May, on the tomb of Dada Chaturbhurj, a grand fair is organized. And in the name of prasad, liquor is distributed. Men create ruckus after consuming liquor and the most badly affected are ladies because of it. Three years back, a daughter of this village who is involved in the social causes in Rajasthan, Balika Vidyalaya’s teacher Sarita protested against these orthodox religious beliefs.
A lot of ladies joined Sarita and put a foot forward protesting against liquor consumption. In 2016, Seema, Vidyavati, Bhhoori, Manisha, Lalli, Asha, etc left their household work and gave full support to Sarita. When the men protested, a lot of youngsters and old men came forward and supported these women. With this, now nobody consumes alcohol in this village.
The lady who started this movement, Sarita Bharat says, “In Penate’s pooja, I had decided not let anyone consume liquor. I decided to socially boycott those men who consume liquor and create ruckus. Also, Penates was treated with soft drinks instead of liquor.”Women say that now their families are happy. Whatever they earn, it goes to the family. Now they drink milk of the cows they have kept in their homes.