Medha Patkar's 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Yatra' insisting strongly on ban of liquor across India has commenced from Kanyakumari and will travel through Tiruvanathapuram, Trichur, Coimbatore, Salem, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Mumbai, Jharkhand, Odisha, Ranchi, Raipur and finally end with a large gathering in Bhopal on 12th October, 2016. The Yatra reached here yesterday night.
Social activist Medha Patkar at a press meet, here stated that the women of 15 states have been on a protest spree to annihilate liquor as it's been ruining their families, many times claiming the life of the bread winner or leaving them suffer prolonged ailments. Students and labourers are adversely affected by liquor and it pose a serious threat on the upcoming generation.
In recent times, particularly after the death of Sasi Perumal, the awareness among the people to eradicate liquor has remarkably increased. But the involvement of political parties in the liquor industry is helping the industry to thrive well, despite persistent rallies and protests.
When questioned about the on-going Cauvery issue, she said that the present Cauvery Management tribunal has not addressed and dealt the issue efficiently. A team of experts should be formed to address all the water sharing issues like Cauvery, Mullai Periyar. However, the team should be given freedom and non-interference of the political parties will help to resolve all water sharing issues present in the nation. The need for water is inevitable for both the states, hence focus should be laid on rain water harvesting and precise water mangement techniques undoubtedly the long-term permanent solution for the issues.
She also put-forth her view on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, affirming that only 5% of power should be extracted from the plant, the government promising to increase it to 20% is an act of eye-wash, she said. The Government has failed to provide necessary safety precautions for the people at Kudankulam.