Press Releases Archive

Letter to Union Health Minister on Liquor Control

7th May 2010
Hyderabad

To
Shri Gulam Nabi Azad
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare
South Avenue Lane
New Delhi

Dear Shri Gulam Nabi Azad ji,

We appreciate your recent efforts on Alcohol Consumption Control Policy in States and towards ensuring that the respective State Health Departments develop and implement the same. Such a policy becomes crucial as consumption of alcohol is ruining lakhs of households in the nation.

As you are aware, liquor has become major source of revenue for many State governments. In Andhra Pradesh successive state governments have generated income through liquor license auctions, sales tax, excise duties and other such avenues unmindful of the ill-effects that consumption of liquor has caused in over 75 lakh households in the State.

According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences for the World Health Organization; alcohol generates a revenue of Rs.21,600 crore while the losses caused by it in terms of health amount to Rs.24,400 crore. It can be understood that the gain of Rs.15000 crore to the Andhra Pradesh by way of liquor would mean a loss of Rs.16,944 crore to the public in terms of health care costs.

Andhra Pradesh Government has not yet acted upon the advice of the Union Health Ministry: its primary focus appears to be maximizing revenue through the sale and consumption of alcohol even at the cost of people’s health. Despite, repeated appeals from the Lok Satta Party, the State Government is yet to act upon the Government of India’s advice to impose curbs on curbs on alcohol consumption and seek compensation from it for any loss of revenue. Also the Andhra Pradesh government had earlier constituted a committee to carry on an anti-liquor awareness campaign has not reconstituted the committee on the expiry of its tenure.

We therefore urge you to ensure that concrete measures are put in place so that Health Departments in the States are empowered to oversee all alcohol-related issues, in the States. If necessary, the Government of India can legislate under Article 249 of the Constitution on a subject in the State list.

In view of the importance of the issue, we are marking a copy of this letter to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

Sincerely

V. Lakshman Balaji
General Secretary,
Lok Satta Party

Friday, May 7, 2010 - 17:43

Lok Satta Party lashes out at Govt. liquor policy

The Lok Satta Party today flayed the Andhra Pradesh Government for persisting with its policy of liquor auctions unmindful of the havoc liquor has played with the lives of nearly 75 lakh families in the State.

When shops are auctioned to highest bidders, shop owners are forced to maximize their earnings by promoting and encouraging as many unauthorized outlets or belt shops as possible. A random survey by the Lok Satta has revealed that there are already 150,000 belt shops in the State.

Talking to the media, Lok Satta Party leaders Mr.V.Laxman Balaji, Mr. P. Bhaskara Rao pointed out that the liquor has become the main source of revenue to the Andhra Pradesh Government. The State Government will be earning Rs.15000 crore in the Excise Year beginning on July 1 by way of license fees, excise and sales tax and other incidental charges.

The Lok Satta leaders said the revenue the State Government generates by promoting liquor consumption is much more than what it spends on schemes like supply of rice at Rs.2 a kg, INDIRAMMA houses, pensions to the aged, widows and the physically disabled and tuition fee reimbursement and scholarships to students.

According to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences for the World Health Organization, alcohol generates a revenue of Rs.21,600 crore while the losses caused by it in terms of health amount to Rs.24,400 crore. The gain of Rs.15000 crore to the Andhra Pradesh by way of liquor would mean a loss of Rs.16,944 crore to the public in terms of health care costs.

The Lok Satta leaders expressed surprise that the Andhra Pradesh Government has not bothered to heed the advice of the Union Health Ministry that the Excise Department be stripped of the responsibility of alcohol related regulations since its primary focus always remained on maximizing revenue and not people’s health. The Union Health Ministry suggested that the State Department of Health and Family Welfare be entrusted with the development and implementation of an overall Alcohol Consumption Control Policy.

The Lok Satta leaders appealed to the State Government to fall in line with the Government of India advice and seek compensation from it for loss of revenue because of curbs on alcohol consumption.

The Lok Satta leaders in a letter to the Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad wanted him to ensure that concrete measures are put in place so that Health Departments are empowered to oversee all alcohol-related issues, in the States. If necessary, the Government of India can legislate under Article 249 of the Constitution on a subject in the State list.

The Lok Satta leaders recalled that the State Government had constituted a committee to carry on an anti-liquor campaign to camouflage its drive to maximize revenue from liquor sales and douse protests from women’s organizations. This year, the Government had given up even that pretence since it did not re-appoint the committee once its term expired.

The Lok Satta would like the State Government to run liquor shops instead of auctioning them and limit their total number to the barest minimum. It would want the Government to empower panchayats to curb illicit liquor distillation and unauthorized liquor outlets.

Friday, May 7, 2010 - 17:42

Lok Satta hails SC verdict

The Lok Satta Party today welcomed the Supreme Court in the Ambani brothers’ dispute over natural gas sharing and pricing.

In a statement, Lok Satta Party leaders Mr. V. Laxman Balaji, Mr. P. Bahaskara Rao said the Supreme Court verdict upheld the sovereign right of the Government of India’s sovereign right on the pricing and utilization of natural gas.

The Lok Satta leaders appealed to the Government of India to ensure that Andhra Pradesh’s gas needs are fully met.

Friday, May 7, 2010 - 17:42

Letter to IV Subba Rao on MLC Elections

6th May 2010

To
Dr. IV Subba Rao, IAS
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Andhra Pradesh
Election Commission of India (ECI)
New ‘H’ Block South Wing, AP Secretariat
Hyderabad

Sub: Run up to the AP Legislative Council elections – widespread corrupt electoral practices reported – reg.

Dear Sir,

We would like to bring to your attention several, recent and credible reports carried by the print and electronic media, of widespread instances of bribing of voters, exercising undue influence (esp. by bussing voters to ‘camps’ outside the State and holding them there) and other attempts at voter intimidation by traditional political parties, their candidates and leaders, in the run up to the upcoming elections to the AP Legislative Council.

Such brazen attempts by candidates and their parties, as reported, at vote-buying and intimidation would surely act an undue influence on the voters’ electoral choice. Therefore they constitute nothing but corrupt electoral practices, under the provisions of Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act (1951).

Vote-buying through money and liquor has been a ubiquitous feature of elections in the country for some time. Illegitimate expenditure for such corrupt electoral practices is astronomical. However, in this case of elections to the AP Legislative Council (May 2010), new depths have been plumbed: it is widely reported that such illegitimate expenses have already exceeded Rs. 15 crores – just for one seat of the RR District local authorities’ constituency having only 653 voters.

If such brazen attempts to hijack the electoral process are allowed without hindrance, ‘free-and-fair elections’ would be reduced to a mockery and all canons of democracy and free exercise of franchise will stand violated.

We therefore urge the Election Commission to take cognizance of the reported gross violations of the RP Act and rules, in the manner of widespread and blatant vote-buying and voter intimidation and take all necessary action. We have faith in the Election Commission to act swiftly and decisively to curb such illegal, illegitimate and undemocratic practices.

Sincerely,

Katari Srinivasa Rao (General Secretary)
V L Balaji (General Secretary)
P. Bhaskara Rao (Secretary)

Thursday, May 6, 2010 - 17:06

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