Mushrooming of belt shops become cause for worry for women, children in Sangareddy

Women in Sangareddy district have raised concerns over the rise of belt shops in villages, alleging that round-the-clock liquor sales are leading to harassment, domestic violence and hardship for families. Complaints were also made about the reopening of shops despite earlier closures

Sangareddy: The mushrooming of belt shops across villages has become a cause for concern for women and children in many families. Since the belt shops were selling liquor round the clock, those addicted to alcohol in the villages were consuming liquor even during midnight. Drunkards were also forcing their children to go to the belt shops to fetch liquor for them.

Reflecting the prevailing situation in the villages, a woman, Rupa, from Sanvarao Pet in Narayankhed mandal complained to Sub-Collector Umaharathi about her husband, who was allegedly harassing her after consuming liquor. In her complaint, Rupa said that her husband had even sold ration rice to buy liquor since the belt shop in the village remained open round the clock.

She further said that he even forced her children to buy liquor during the night. She lamented that he had beaten them and chased them out of the house when they refused to buy liquor for him at midnight.

It is not the story of Rupa alone, as several women and children were allegedly suffering in a similar manner while the Congress government was focusing on increasing liquor sales to enhance revenue. Even though Rupa said that she had complained to the police and other officials, no action was taken against the belt shop owner in the village.

Following complaints from such women, several gram panchayats enforced the closure of belt shops across the erstwhile Medak district. However, the belt shop owners, who had tasted profits from liquor sales, allegedly reopened the shops with the support of politicians and Excise department officials.