Essay Competition for College Students to Raise Awareness on Liquor Habits at Tamil Nadu

Nandini Voice For the Deprived, a Chennai based NGO conducted an essay
competition for colllege students in Tamil Nadu on Social implications of
fast spreading liquor habit in Tamil Nadu.The competition was organised in
the context of the forthcoming Gandhi Jayanthi Day on 2nd October.

The details of the competition , award of prizes and highlights of the views
of the students are attached.The students made interesting and refreshing
comments and suggestions.

To help the cause,kindly forward the details to your friends and your
associates.

N.S.Venkataraman,

Trustee

Nandini Voice For The Deprived

M 60/1, 4^th Cross street,

Besant Nagar,

Chennai-600090

Tel:- 24916037

E mail:- nsvenkat@md4.vsnl.net.in

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ESSAY COMPETITION FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS ON

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF FAST SPREADING LIQUOR HABIT

IN TAMIL NADU

HIGHLIGHTS OF ESSAYS RECEIVED FOR THE COMPETITION

Background Details:

In order to sensitise the youth about the social implications of the problems due to fast spreading liquor habit in Tamil Nadu and to know their views, Nandini Voice for The Deprived , a Chennai based NGO organized an essay competition for the college students in Tamil Nadu on the subject.

The essay competition was organized in the context of the forthcoming Gandhi Jayanthi Day on 2^nd October,2006, since the cause of prohibition was very dear to Mahatma Gandhis heart.

150 essays were received from the college students from all over Tamil Nadu, written either in English or Tamil.

Of the 150 entries, 122 were from girl students and 28 were from boy students.

Of the entries received, 38 were from students in Chennai and suburbs and 112 entries were from other parts of Tamil Nadu.

The best of ten entries were chosen for providing cash awards. The list of prize winners are attached. Of the prize winners, 9 were girl students and one was boy student.

All the participants would be given the participation certificate

Views of the judges :

The judges were highly satisfied about the quality of the presentation made by the students. Most of the students have made extensive desk research and a few of them appear to have carried out some survey themselves before forming their views . They have quoted extensively from Tamil and English literature in support of their views. The commitment of the students in making their presentation provides considerable hope about the future of the society. It was a hard decision for the judges to shortlist ten students for providing the prizes. The original proposal was only to provide five prizes which was increased to ten considering the quality of the entries received.

Observations of the students :

Government gives liquor to the father and mid day meal to the child
With the drinking father busy in liquor shops, the inevitable result would

be increase in child labour , to eradicate which the Government is investing

crores of rupees

Prohibition in the country failed not due to any flaw in the concept but only due to the corruption in police and government machinery.
No political party in Tamil Nadu made any promises about imposition of prohibition in their election manifesto in the recent poll, obviously indicating that the political parties have no faith in this Gandhian philosophy.
The increasing liquor habit has directly contributed to widespread increase in corruption, as the liquor addicts need more money.
There are unconfirmed reports that some women are taking to liquor habit these days. This should cause tremendous concern amongst those who care for harmony in society.
The social and economic cost of alcohol consumption on GDP should be estimated, so that one can understand the extent of damage caused by the rapidly increasing number of liquor addicts in the country.
A generation of citizens was brought up due to the great work of leaders like

Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy and Rajaji and the advantage has been wiped out by present day Governments which have only short term objectives.

* In effect, Government approves liquor consumption by the citizens, though the

Directive Principles of State Policy in Constitution Article 47 clearly states

The State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of consumption

of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health

A citizen can produce ideas and write essays about them. But, the thin line between ideas and solutions can be crossed only by the Government.

Overall views of the students :

None of the students have approved the prevailing conditions where the practice of liquor consumption is spreading fast in Tamil Nadu .

While analyzing the consequences and the adverse impact of the liquor consumption , large number of students have expressed concern about the attitude and approach of the Government of Tamil Nadu on the issue. It was overwhelmingly pointed out that the Government itself marketing the liquor and making huge money in the process has contributed to remove the social stigma that was there on the liquor habit of the individuals. Several students further said that obviously the Government of Tamil Nadu is not concerned about the health of the citizens and economic misery that happen particularly to the poor families due to widespread sale of liquor in the state. A few students went to the extent of stating that the Government of Tamil Nadu is irresponsible as far as its liquor policy is concerned .

It was also pointed out that the statutory warning exhibited in the liquor shops that taking liquor will harm the health and spoil the harmony in the family is a mockery and fraud, as the liquor addicts would not even notice such announcements. If the government thinks that liquor taking is bad, then how can it sell it ? The college students are aghast about such methods of the government and the politicians and one student asked as to how can such government machinery command any respect and credibility at all.

Many of them expressed deep concern that even school students take to liquor habit, following the examples set up by the elders.

The suffering of the women, disharmony in the family and the way that the education of children being affected and the poor being driven to more desperate conditions due to the liquor habit have been elaborately discussed by most of the students. Several of them have said that if they happen to come to power on any day, they would not hesitate to impose prohibition whatever may be the consequences.

Several of them do not buy the argument that prohibition is unenforceable and illicit liquor will thrive if prohibition were to be imposed. They said it is a flimsy excuse given by those in power who lack the will to introduce prohibition and perhaps several of them are drink addicts themselves.

Number of students have pointed out to the views of Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy on the need to avoid liquor consumption and about his destroying several palm trees from where toddy is tapped. One student said that those who are in power today claim that they are followers and admirers of Periyar but ignore his agitation demanding closure of liquor shops. One girl student said that the followers of Periyar follow his principles selectively and conveniently.

It is gratifying that so many students have expressed their disgust about the fast spreading liquor consumption in Tamil Nadu disproving the general view that prohibition has lost the battle in the state.

It was pointed out that several cinemas while depicting scenes of liquor consumption put a small sub title that liquor consumption is bad for health. This amounts to only fooling the public.

The argument that liquor sale by Government is necessary to boost its income was ridiculed by several students ,who pointed out that the Governments primary job is to promote welfare state and a few students recalled Gandhijis saying that means should justify the ends.

Circulation of details to interested persons :

Nandini voice for the deprived would be pleased to send the details of the highlights of the views of the students to those interested by e mail, if the request would be sent to the following address

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PRIZE WINNERS OF THE ESSAY COMPETITION CONDUCTED

NANDINI VOICE FOR THE DEPRIVED

FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN TAMIL NADU ON

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF FAST SPREADING LIQUOR CONSUMPTION

IN TAMIL NADU

Ms. Malini R. – III year B.Tech (Chemical & Electrochemical Engg.)

Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi

Ms. J. Divya – I year B.C.A

Nirmala college for women, Coimbatore

M.Arul Mary – III year B.Sc.

Lady Doak College, Madurai

Ms. M. Rajeswari – II Year Microbiology

Srimathy Indira Gandhi College for Women, Tiruchirappalli

Ms. H.A.C. Jameela Beevi – I Year M.A. English Literature,

Sarah Tucker Womens college, Tirunelveli

Ms. M. Akila – II year B.Com

Cauvery college for women, Tiruchirappalli

Mr.. Sasimohan V. – Final Year B.V.Sc.

Madras Veterinary College, Chennai

Ms. Durga Prabhala – Dept. of Psychology

Madras University, Chennai

Ms. H. Arifa Begum – III Year English Literature

Thasim Beevi Abdul Khadher College for women, Kilakarai

Ms. R. Muthu Marieswari – II year B.Sc. Chemistry

G. Venkataswamy Naidu College, Kovilpatti