'Ban on liquor shops leaves salesmen jobless'

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, April 22: The banning of sale of liquor vends within 500 metres of state and tiol highways across the country have badly hit the dealers and retailers of liquors. Members of All Assam Indian Made Foreign Liquors Retailers Association (AAIMFLRA), Cachar, at a meeting held at a famous hotel of this town today, opined that such steps have affected their business and commerce very badly. “We do not engage ourselves in selling adulterated, unrefined or impure liquor. Consumption of a small amount of liquor in parties and special occasions is in our culture. Although we do not promote liquor, but it has become a part of people’s life.” said Arindam Hore, member, AAIMFLRA.

“But it has rendered dealers, retailers, shop owners and salesmen jobless. All the shops have to be kept shuttered. Our shops have been closed for the last 22 days and we have not got any revenue from the government as well. We are uware what steps and initiatives are being taken by the government. People want good quality liquor. But once the price gets doubled, they may again start consuming cheap quality liquor. This decision has affected our persol business. Almost 350 salesmen along with their and the dealers’ and retailers’ families are facing extreme hardships, said Arindam Hore. He further said that members of these families are having sleepless nights.

 “At present, many steps have been taken to solve this problem. We do not want to go against the decision of the Apex Court. But a way has to come out. Revenues have to come from somewhere. We are constantly in touch with the ministers and government officials regarding this issue,” Hore added to say. He also said that the business in the states of Meghalaya and Mizoram has not been affected so badly. “Liquors imported from these states are costly and thus government has to incur huge losses. Moreover, we do not know about the quality of liquors which comes from there,” said Hore.

“So we have decided to discuss this issue with the government and in this regard, a meeting will be organized at Guwahati by next week. There were 146 licensed liquors shops operating in Cachar district till March 31, 2017. At present, 8 out of 146 are functiol in the district and only one shop and a bar are operating in Silchar only. The rest 6 are in interior areas like Hawaitang, Matigar and others. There were 3 to 5 salesmen in each of these shops. All have been rendered jobless,” said Arindam Hore.