In an unfortunate incident, over 100 people have died in Mumbai, Maharashtra after consuming homemade liquor. The report says that Methanol was added to the batch of homemade liquor to increase its potency. Methanol affected the central nervous system of most victims and they died a painful death. 100 lives lost of mostly bread earners so 100 families devastated.
The root cause is poverty, corruption and lack of strong laws which let such tragedies happen. Since hooch is banned all over I don’t see any reason how it is possible that it was being sold at such a large scale without the knowledge of the law-bearers. I am sure there always was and there always is a nexus between the two. I feel sad and hurt that it takes over 100 lost lives for the Government to wake up and action being taken in less than 48 hours and all the culprits being caught. It’s a different thing that they will bend the laws as per their wants and get out eventually.
What surprised me was the Government politicizing the issue rather than taking stern action and recommending stringent laws to ensure this does not appear in the future. The State Government has declared a Rs.1, 00,000/- compensation for the family of each deceased. Why? Just because you need the vote bank? I am sorry for the deaths but they have not died fighting for the country like my brothers in the defense forces. They have not died like my police brothers in the line of Duty. They have not done anything to make my country and state proud. Then why the compensation? If the said ministers feel so much for the deceased, they can donate from their personal wealth. Why the taxpayers money?
The worst is happening here as daily Mid-Day reported a video showing hooch making in full swing just a few days and 15 kms away from Malwani where this incident happened. Business is ON as usual and the administration has turned a blind eye towards this factory, probably wanting another 104 to die before taking action.
The sad part is that as long as we don’t have a Transparent and strict Governance, these tragedies will happen and our politicians will use the dead and the injured to play their dirty politics, with our emotions and money. I just hope that someday we get good Governance which thinks beyond all these small political gains and look at making the country a better place to live in.
(Video source: Mid-day)
Uttpal K
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I agree with you. Even crime is being compensated. It should not be the case. Government must take stern action against those are involved in such kind of activities.
Yes Binod. Hope we get a good governance..
Great article, keep up the good work.
Feel bad for the families of the people who died in the incident but i doubt giving them compensation money is really the solution. Not surprised they started doing the same thing again within a few days itself.
Truth of the matter is the government never cares about the poor and middle class people unless it is election time.
Yes Shifa. I would have rather respected a resolution by the Government to make a relief fund for the Defence personals. Off late we have had so many casualties there. They are the one who deserve all this.
Government and governance is an alien concept in India!! We are “bhagwan bharose” country!! And I can say that because I am a responsible voter 🙁
Yes Roohi, just hoping some day this all changes for good.. 🙂
A very unfortunate tragedy. I agree it could have bee avoided with better governance.
Yes Somali. Very Tragic indeed..
Why does pur country always takes a step back? Its really painful to see those ppl die
..as of now it’s off the radar now Sonia. Having caught a few culprits, the case is closed. What about the national racket? Nothing is happening on that as seen in the video.
It is really sad state of the government machinery….everything goes on uninterrupted under their noses. Very sad and depressing to know about such incidents.
There is no value for human life. Its the biggest tragedy of our country Anita ..
It isn’t the matter of governance but moral will. If no one purchase that deadly poison then no sell it. It’s us who cannot control our urge and strive for banned things and then blame government or others for our tragedies.
I agree Ravish. But when you ban something and implement it, it becomes very expensive, after which people either spend a huge some to get it or drop the item from their wish list. Gujarat is a glaring example..Is there no Liquor there Ravish?
The fact that there is a strict liquor ban makes the hooch makers alert and they ensure that not a single death happens. Do you think people in Gujarat don’t drink?
The urge will never die..but to make it impossible like difficult to get will wipe out the problem..slowly..
Agree.. This is now a business. Every govt pays money and says this is continuance from the previous govt.. This is like promoting crime and being paid for it.
Yes Rajesh, completely agree with you. No one wants to take the Onus and stop it once and for all. All political parties conveniently forget the “Aam Junta” when they come in power.
Government will never put a ban on illegal brewing of country liquor. The condition is same in every state. Whenever a tragedy happens, they announce some compensation to save their vote bank. 🙁
Yes Mani. No government has pledged in any state and implemented the complete eradication of illegal brewing..
I totally agree with you. While it is sad that lives were lost, announcing compensation is vote bank politics and a shameful use of honest taxpayers’ hard earned money. That money could have been better spent on feeding or educating children from economically challenged families.
Yes Lata. Politics in India is always played with the hard earned money of the Tax-payer.
Sad 🙁
I Agree with you
Thanks for stopping by Rupam.. Yes a sad state of affairs.. 🙁
Absolutely agree with you! Why tax payers money to compensate(?) the death of some drunkers instead of banning the sale of poisoned liquor? Same happened here in West Bengal a few years back. It’s unfortunate that dirty politics is prevalent all over the country. From my experience I cannot anymore hope for “good governance” above politics in India. 🙁
Yes Moon, slowly we are all losing hope in these political parties. All are promising a change if they are voted to power, but once elected not much changes in the country.
The compensation part s something that is a political glimmick. You get compensation for even a wrong act. Its time we as a society should be more responsible as governance improves through society.
Yes Datta, no Government has the right to blow away the honest Tax-payers money this way. They could very well shell out from their pockets if they feel so. I am sure it won’t impact their four figured crores.
So sad to read about this tragedy. We can hardly expect anything to happen in India, especially where Govt is concerned…too much of corruption at all levels.
Even the compensation will not be delivered to these poor people (irrespective of your view on the same). Those payments will be divided by the middlemen at central and state levels.
Pretty bad state of affairs.
Yes Alok. First and foremost point that its a wrong decision according to me to compensate these deaths. This has been done to gain political mileage. Secondly the money forcefully taken under this pretext may never get delivered to the poor families ever..104 Deaths and one lakh each…I am sure many eyes of the middlemen at the central and state level would gleam calculating that amount.
One way to root out a nexus of this kind and to control corruption is to treat political parties at par with companies when it comes to funding and expenditure. Once political funding becomes transparent, quite a few things would improve. However, this needs nerves of chilled steel and a visionary view of the country.
You may like to check this out:
https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/a-16-point-agenda-for-the-16th-lok-sabha-of-india
100% agree with you Bhatia Sir. I am sure your post will throw new light on how a near ideal Governance should be. Very well written and documented. 🙂
Government is made of people like us…shouldn’t we all change andnot only blame each other?
Agree with you Shoma. Once we are a part of the Government why do we change? Why do we need extra security cover? Why don’t we treat every single death as our own building /apartment neighbours once we are in the Government. Why do we tend to get attracted to money and corruption when in Government? Why cant we be normal you and me once we are in the Government? Any answers?
UK,
Good one on the compensation. Farmers suicide is another ignored issue, just check out the numbers and you will be shocked. Irony is that India is an agricultural country. Failed monsoons and money sharks are taking the life out of them. Who cares? No media is covering them because No TRP there and no politician is interested because the farmers do not have the voice to make a noise.
We have thousands of tons of food materials getting rotten without proper storage and people dying of starvation. Floods on one part and drought on the other. Compensation is a form of bribe to shut up.
Net, What we need is good governance and sensitive people in key positions. Nice post.
Best
Katie
Admin
Chennai Focus
Thanks for stopping by Katie…I completely agree with you..
Sad state of affairs!
🙁 Getting worse day by day Archi..