Nagaland: Women Communities Set up Checkposts to Prevent Alcohol Supply

KOHIMA: Ahead of the polling dated on February 27, local communities have started setting up ‘checkposts’ in parts of the state of Nagaland to avoid the sale of alcohol in the state. These are being set up and controlled mainly by women of the region.

In the Chetheba region of the Phek district of the state of Nagaland, the apex organisation of the women of the Chakhesang tribe, the Chakhesang Mother’s Association has set up these checkposts. These gates see the round-the-clock presence of women belonging to the community. The ladies politely order the drivers entering the locality to stop while a search is carried out for alcohol bottles being smuggled into the state. It is important to note that on paper, Nagaland is a dry state but it has seen the capture of alcohol worth lakhs of rupees in the days since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland had announced the capture of more than 70000 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in the state till February 18. One Sezo Bolu mentioned, “Despite our best efforts, liquor still manages to flow through. One of the ways they do this is by coming late at night and just before reaching the checkpost, they go through the jungles on foot.” She is the head of the organisation conducting the search operations in the locality.

She also mentioned that the core reason for these initiatives is to stop the inflow of alcohol in their locality, adding that alcohol consumption especially during election time often leads to violence in the household and that the women of the community face more problems because of the consumption of alcohol by their husbands and sons.

The lady also mentioned that these checkposts usually run from 8 AM to 6 AM every day as people of the village take turns to man the posts round the clock.

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