From Nainital to Gairsain — A Padyatra for a cause
Nainital, India: A large number of activists from different parts of Uttarakhand State will start “Padyatra” (foot march) on November 21 for covering 150 Km between Nainital and Gairsain in 12 days.
They are staging Padyatra against increasing liquor sale among youth of the State. This walk is part of a widely received campaign “Right To Employment and Health” that has a larger agenda including a demand for setting up a separate department for prohibition of liquor in Uttarakhand State by anti-liquor activities. The State of Uttarakhand is making liquor as its main source of income by setting target to increase sale as higher as ₹2,310 crore (Indian rupees) for the current fiscal year (2017-18).
While talking to Dispatch News Desk (DND) News Agency, convener of campaign and a popular young activist Praveen Singh said that activists would hold a Padyatra from Nainital to Gairsain to press their demands. He stated that unemployment among youth is one of the major reasons rather the only reason to bring young generation towards drugs and alcoholism.
He was of the view that a welfare estate like India should be concerned about increasing sale of liquor among youth instead of making liquor sale as main revenue generation tool.
“If state thinks that sale and usage of liquor is good for health of people and economy of the state then state must give subsidy and must link liquor sale with Below Poverty Line (BPL) card or with AADHAR card”, commented Praveen Singh.
We will go door to door, school, college, village, town and cities along the way during our 150 Km journey and talk with people who are direct affectees of alcoholism.
Although classical activism is being replaced by paid activism in South Asia, India is still a country left with this romanticism where one can find young people like Praveen Singh to continue their fight against unjust, unemployment and inequality.
