NELLORE:In what could be considered an ironic twist to the saga of the 1992 anti-liquor movement - in which the women of Nellore district had forced the then TDP government headed by late NT Rama Rao to impose total prohibition in the state - several women thronged the excise and prohibition department office here on Saturday to secure licences to run liquor shops in the district. Saturday was the last day for the submission of applications for the licences which would be valid for a two-year period 2015-17.
Of the 1,891 applicants for 131 liquor shops in Gudur division alone, 10 per cent are women.
Interestingly, the tussle for the liquor shop in Kaligiri mandal -- of which Dubagunta village had hit the headlines in 1992 as it was there that a woman named Dubagunta Rosamma had started the anti-arrack movement, which had later spread to the entire state - was severe this time, the sources said. They said that this perhaps reflected the changed mindsets of the people of the mandal.
“It is unfortunate that I have to witness such a pathetic situation. I am not able to digest the fact that so many women are vying for liquor shop licences now. These women are out to sully the reputation of the entire womenfolk of the district,” Rosamma told Express.
It may be mentioned that as many as 50 women got liquor shop licenses during the 2012-14 period. Now, this number is set to go up much higher considering the fact that nearly 190 women are vying for such licences.
Gudur excise superintendent Komareswaran told Express that there were specific guidelines regarding the issuance of liquor shop licences to women and added that his department was strictly following the same.
Meanwhile, the administration -- which is expecting a huge revenue of around Rs 400 cr through the issuance of licenses in the wake of the 45 per cent increase in the license fees compared to those in the 2012-14 years -- is gearing up to allocate the 313 liquor shops through a lucky dip.