Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh): Beware drunkards! Before you create any ruckus, sticks of women will welcome you. The district is in the grip of severe cold these days. This is the time when everyone prefers to stay indoors, enjoying the warmth of a quilt, to going out, especially at night.
But a group of fearless women in Gaikhuri ward number 33, braving chilling weather, carrying sticks, rods and spears, move around the roads of the area to shoo away drunkards.
They have decided to patrol the area on their own as their application to stop sale and manufacturing of liquor fell on deaf ears of the administration. They submitted a volley of applications to the officials of the administration to stop sale of liquor so that drunkards may not create a ruckus at night, but that came to naught.
As soon as the evening falls, women in the ward begin to set out of their homes to keep the area free from drunkards and their menace. They carry sticks, rods and spears to take on the drunkards.
According to Poornima Raut who is leading these brave women, 20-25 women daily patrol the area. Fearing these women, the drunkards have run away, Raut said, adding that they also search for drunkards different places to punish them.
The purpose of these women is to maintain peace and harmony in the area and to discipline a few unruly people, she said. Whenever these women find anyone on the street either buying liquor or consuming it, they catch hold of him and dress him down. Their efforts have brought a positive impact on the people.
Drunkards are barely seen creating a ruckus in the evening. These women are also creating awareness among the villagers about the ill effects of consuming liquor. In-charge of Kotwali police station Prakash Waskle appreciated the movement launched by women. He said that whenever they had sought any help from the police they were provided with it.
