Chakpa Group, Andro resolve to support lifting prohibition of liquor

Imphal: Chakpa Group, Andro hold a public meeting on Saturday at Andro Bazaar, Imphal East district and resolved to support the state Cabinet decision to lift prohibition on liquor.

The meeting was held under the banner “We support Government’s Decision on Step to legalise exporting of Distilled Indigenous Country (DIC) Liquor”.

Khullakpa (village chief), Andro, Sagolshem Chandra said the people of Andro appreciated the decision of state Cabinet on legalisation of DIC liquor in Manipur. He said for some communities including Andro, manufacturing of distilled indigenous country liquor (DIC) liquor has been a tradition since time immemorial.

The traditional liquor has been a main item which is used in worshiping deities and during the occasion of a birth ceremony or death ceremony, he said.

For Andro, all the household manufacture liquor at their respective houses and offered to the dead forefather on first Sunday of Langban (lunar calendar) as ‘Lam Haiba’. Liquor preparation cannot be stopped for Andro as it is a part of its tradition, he added.

Former chairperson of Andro Municipal Council, Yumkhaibam Sajou Khuman said manufacturing distilled indigenous liquor has been a part of tradition of Andro people. He appreciated the decision of state cabinet to lift prohibition on liquor from Manipur. With the initiatives of the state government the state distilled liquor including Andro could compete at international level. This will not only boost the economy of the state but also will promote Manipur indigenous liquor at international level, he added.

If the liquor is manufactured with certain regulation, adulteration could be prevented. Present people of Andro have been selling and manufacturing liquor with different technique without maintaining a standard quality. However, if the liquor is legalised in the state under certain regulation then the impact on health could be prevented at maximum, Sajou said.

He appealed the civil bodies, local bodies and others to support the decision of state Cabinet and cooperate in drafting a regulation.

During the meeting people raised slogans “We support CM Biren”, “We support BJP government”, “We support on legalisation of liquor”.