Even as liquor shops mushroom across Odisha, where the excise revenue skyrocketed by an astonishing 368% within the last decade, a group of seven gram panchayats in the State’s tribal heartland of Rayagada district have chosen a different path.
Decades ago, villagers in the region had consciously chosen not to allow the sale of either liquor or tobacco products in their neighbourhoods. The tradition continued to be followed by local tribal villages The community prohibition on sale of liquor assumes even greater significance since consumption of country-made liquor is often associated with tribal culture and tradition.
“I don’t remember the year from when the prohibition on the sale of liquor in villages came into force. I have not found any availability of liquor in shops since my childhood,” said Asia Sabar, a young Sarpanch of Putasingh gram panchayat of this southern Odisha district.
