In the context of the forthcoming Gandhi Jayanthi Day, Nandini Voice for The Deprived , a Chennai based NGO conducted an essay competition for college students in Tamil Nadu on "Impact of widespread liquor habit in Tamil Nadu and how to retrieve the situation?"..

642 college students from all over Tamil Nadu participated in the essay competition 72% of the entries were from women students.

Not even single student approved the present conditions of widespread liquor habit in Tamil Nadu and most of them used strong language to criticize and even condemn the present scenario. Particularly, several women students wrote with great anguish and pointed out several unsavoury happenings amongst the youth due to this widespread liquor habit in the state.

Highlights of the views expressed by the students are given below

The students overwhelmingly pointed out the severe and huge damage that is presently being done to the fibre and fabric of Tamil Nadu because of the rapidly spreading liquor habit .

Many students vehemently disapproved government of Tamil Nadu selling liquor for the sake of multiplying income, unmindful of the consequences to the economics and social well being of lakhs of families in the state, particularly those belonging to the lower income group. It was pointed out that government of Tamil Nadu has provided sort of legitimacy to the unhealthy practice of drinking by providing the sanction of law for this practice. The great work done by stalwarts like Rajaji, Kalki Krishnamurthy and others towards the cause of prohibition have been wiped out in one stroke by the successive governments in Tamil Nadu, the students pointed out.

The students refused to accept the argument that imposition of prohibition will lead to loss of income for the government and may also result in sale of illicit liquor. The students refuted the argument saying that only a government without commitment and sense of pride would advance such arguments.

The students said that the price that we are paying in Tamil Nadu for the rapid spread of liquor habit is very high and will certainly affect the progress and betterment of Tamil Nadu in the years to come. One would realize the gravity of the situation by the fact , that even boys in the age group of 12 and 13 have taken to drinking habit and some students are reported to be attending schools in drunken state , as published in the media.

The students further said that it is tragic that women are taking to liquor habit in a bigger way and even educated and well employed women increasingly consume liquor in parties as a matter of routine.

In college hostels , it is now a common practice to see some students keeping liquor bottles in the shelves in their room , which are meant for keeping text books and note books. In many cases, whether it is a death ceremony or birth day /marriage function or religious congregation, liquor has become a must.

Many students pragmatically pointed out that extending freebies on the one hand and selling liquor on the other hand by the government amount to cheating the poor people, which a welfare government is not supposed to do.

LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS

The prizes would be awarded to the students in the Gandhi Jayanthi meeting on 1st October,2011 at 5.00 p.m. in Youth Hostel, Indira Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-20.