Bihar has banned the consumption and sale of alcohol. This is noteworthy because the state has banned alcohol at a time when many other states earn a sizeable revenue from excise out of the sale of alcohol. In an exclusive interview with BE’s Kishore Kumar Biswas, Vijendra Prasad Yadav, Minister in Charge, Power, Excise, State Government of Bihar, spoke about the success of banning alcohol and the challenges the government faced.
Q. Why did you take such a seemingly unpopular decision like banning the consumption and sale of alcohol in Bihar?
A. Please remember the end of 2014 when our Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar addressed a gathering where a lot of women were present. In that meeting the women requested him to ban the consumption of alcohol in the state. Alcoholism had been causing harm to the rural poor. In a large number of families, a lot of money is diverted from livelihood needs to alcohol. The drunken members also destroy family lives in different ways. You know that a large number of people in Bihar live below the poverty line (BPL). Nitish Kumarji decided if the party would win the state election, alcohol consumption and sale would be banned in the state. We did this when we were voted to form the government.
We banned it first in the rural areas and within a week there was big gathering of women in Patna demanding a similar ban in urban areas. So, we went for the complete ban of alcohol in the state. That is why it can be said that it was not an unpopular step.
Q. Can one state successfully ban alcohol consumption if other states around it don't?
Bu hikaye BUSINESS ECONOMICS dergisinin August 16 - 31, 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye BUSINESS ECONOMICS dergisinin August 16 - 31, 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Deposit shortage: challenges facing India's banking ecosystem
In any macroeconomic framework, the household sector plays a critical role as a driver consumption, savings, and overall economic activity.
India's future dreams in Semiconductors & AI
A midst the gloom of the RG Kar affair or the Tirupati laddu scam or even the continued terrorist attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, even after the completion of the first general election in the state, we find hope and encouragement when the founder of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, in his recent visit to India says \"India will be a gigantic opportunity for us\".
The Ramayana: Justice and Modern Man
Consisting of Twenty-Four Thousand worthy Sanskrit verses, the Ramayana is one such epic, which provides a pathway to one committed to justice to establish himself as an ideal human being by following the exemplary life of its hero.
Vallabhbhai Patel: A Sardar of Farmers, A Matchless Social Reformer and the Maker of United India
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in unifying the princely states to form the Union of India.
Understanding Prosperity: NOBEL Prize awarded for groundbreaking research on institutions and economic development
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Memory of Alfred Nobel to three US-based economistsDaron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson\"for their studies on how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.\"
Sinking Resources: Groundwater crisis and sustainable solutions in Kolkata
Kolkata's underground water crisis is becoming a serious issue, driven by rapid urbanization and the construction of high-rise buildings.
Tourism Industry positively impacted by the festive season
Diwali transforms streets into a spectacle of festive lights, Diwali transforms streets into olis, and families gearing up for grand celebrations.
RBI's Shift to a Neutral Stance: Signaling a New Phase in Monetary Policy
For over a year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a firm stance against inflation, raising interest rates by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023 in response to post-pandemic price pressures.
UK Budget
There _ he latest UK budget represents a departure from previous fiscal documents.
Han Kang's Historic Nobel Prize Win
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to T South Korean writer Han Kang, 53, known for her works including The Vegetarian, The White Book, Human Acts, and Greek Lessons.
