| Caught drinking in Gujarat? Pick up the broom! IANS |
|
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat plans to soon sweep the drinking habit out of those who dare to violate its prohibition law. If Law Minister Ashok Bhatt has his way, those caught consuming alcohol would have to serve as sweepers in hospitals as part of community service.
Bhatt has told the Assembly that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was considering a proposal under which a person convicted of flouting prohibition laws would not be imprisoned.
Instead, the person would be made to clean the civil hospital for the period that would have been the jail term.
Under the existing law, those found guilty of drinking alcohol are to be jailed for 20 to 30 days.
Chunibhai Vaidya, the president of Gujarat Nashabandhi Mandal, an NGO working for de-addiction and a noted Gandhian, hailed the government's plan as a constructive one.
"This will act as a deterrence for those indulging in alcoholism, provided it is implemented stringently. Those punished under this law should be given special uniforms so they can be distinguished from other workers," Vaidya said.
Besides sweeping, Vaidya said, the convicts should also be used for other works such as in digging wells or ponds, or constructing roads.
If the government's plan goes through, it will come as a relief to jail authorities in the state because most prisons are bursting at their seams with violators of prohibition laws.
In 2002, a total of 105,853 people were arrested in Gujarat for violating prohibition. In 2001, 96,080 people were imprisoned for drinking alcohol. Sources said that in Ahmedabad alone, on an average 100 people are arrested daily for drinking.
A senior official of the prohibition department said: "However, in only 0.5 percent of cases are the arrested convicted. That too only when the accused pleads guilty. In an overwhelming number of cases, the offenders are acquitted."
The Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad has a capacity of 1,300, but houses about 2,900 inmates. The Central Jail in Vadodara, with a capacity of around 900, has 2,000 inmates. The Surat district jail has exceeded its capacity by 1,000.
Besides proposed amendments to prohibition laws, Bhatt also announced the repeal of 240 old laws that had become obsolete and irrelevant. |
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, and more
