Author: Express News Service, Pune
Publication: The Indian Express
Dated: March 4, 2008
Introduction: It's about two liquor shops
sealed after Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar intervenes
Hundreds of jubilant activists of bachat
gats (self-help groups) and women's organisations in Akurdi on Sunday celebrated
what they described as a "victory over evil." Sweets were distributed,
procession in celebration was taken out and slogans denouncing liquor and.
liquor vendors rent the air as the suburb of Akurdi came alive at a time when
hordes of citizens were, glued to their TV sets watching the India versus
Australia ODI.
The women activists had reason to celebrate.
For, after years of complaints, protests and demonstrations, a wine shop and
a country liquor shop located right in the midst of a residential area in
Akurdi were sealed on the directives of the district collectorate late last
evening. The action, says local corporator Javed Shaikh, came only after District
Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar sounded district collector Prabhakar Deshmukhon
February4.
In the last six months, the women activists
had launched a sustained campaign for closure of the wine shop located
in the ground floor of an apartment building.
"At the wine shop, men used to drink
standing outside creating nuisance for women and girls using' the road. The
scene has been no different at the country liquor shop," say Geeta Sutar
and Mumtaz Inamdar.
Corporator Shaikh said the two temples are
also located in the area. "Yet the shops were allowed to be set up by
the officials," he said. "Both the wine and liquor shops spoiled
the atmosphere of the area. Women and girls had no freedom to walk without
hearing lewd comments from the drunk men," lament Alka Kamble and Lata
Chavan.
Inamdar said despite repeated requests
to the police, excise officials could the district collectorate to close down
the shops, no action was taken.
"It was only after we met Ajit Pawar
last month that things have moved. There is no justice to the common man.
Officials simply won't address you complaint," she said.