When a Tasmac liquor shop located at Perur Chettipalyam was shut by the Coimbatore district administration on Wednesday, there was not just happiness but the entire area celebrated it like a festival. Crackers were burst, functions were held and sweets were distributed.
The district administration shut down nearly seven Tasmac shops in Coimbatore following protests by members of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) and other organisations. Those shops were located at Singanallur (opposite ESI hospital), Perur Chettipalayam, Cheripalayam, Sundarapuram and Vadachittur when. Two shops at Kinathukidavu were also shut down.
"We feel like we are liberated after 15 years. We have been protesting for several years and last year on June 20 over 400 women gathered to protest against the shop. Every time, we visited the temple, the medical shop or returned home, we were humiliated by these men who passed lewd comments on us. We are glad that it will all come to an end now," said R Padmavathi who has been residing at Perur Chettipalayam for over 20 years.
Residents of other areas were also happy and grateful to the administration. A woman whose 25-year-old son was a regular visitor at the Tasmac shop in Cheripalayam said, "Though, this would not stop my son from consuming alcohol, it will at least stop him from visiting the shop every hour," said the woman who did not want to be named.
District administration officials said since most of these shops were in a dilapidated condition and also located in areas where there were schools, temples and shops, the shops were shut down.
A Radhika, district secretary of AIDWA, said their job was not over yet. "We have petitioned the district collector to close down many other shops that are located in prime areas near schools and temples. There is a Tasmac shop functioning at Kamarajapuram in Ganapthy, one at Udayampalayam, Karamadai and Sundarapuram which should also be shut down. We were told that these shops will also be shut down within a month. We are hopeful that action is taken as soon as possible," she said.
Apart from AIDWA, various political parties including CPM, social workers and members of various residential welfare associations have taken part in several protests conducted for over a year to shut these shops. The parties conducted functions to thank all those who participated in the protests.
The district administration shut down nearly seven Tasmac shops in Coimbatore following protests by members of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) and other organisations. Those shops were located at Singanallur (opposite ESI hospital), Perur Chettipalayam, Cheripalayam, Sundarapuram and Vadachittur when. Two shops at Kinathukidavu were also shut down.
"We feel like we are liberated after 15 years. We have been protesting for several years and last year on June 20 over 400 women gathered to protest against the shop. Every time, we visited the temple, the medical shop or returned home, we were humiliated by these men who passed lewd comments on us. We are glad that it will all come to an end now," said R Padmavathi who has been residing at Perur Chettipalayam for over 20 years.
Residents of other areas were also happy and grateful to the administration. A woman whose 25-year-old son was a regular visitor at the Tasmac shop in Cheripalayam said, "Though, this would not stop my son from consuming alcohol, it will at least stop him from visiting the shop every hour," said the woman who did not want to be named.
District administration officials said since most of these shops were in a dilapidated condition and also located in areas where there were schools, temples and shops, the shops were shut down.
A Radhika, district secretary of AIDWA, said their job was not over yet. "We have petitioned the district collector to close down many other shops that are located in prime areas near schools and temples. There is a Tasmac shop functioning at Kamarajapuram in Ganapthy, one at Udayampalayam, Karamadai and Sundarapuram which should also be shut down. We were told that these shops will also be shut down within a month. We are hopeful that action is taken as soon as possible," she said.
Apart from AIDWA, various political parties including CPM, social workers and members of various residential welfare associations have taken part in several protests conducted for over a year to shut these shops. The parties conducted functions to thank all those who participated in the protests.