Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. (File Photo)
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has a novel idea to put to use thousands of liquor shops across Bihar, as his government
gradually enforces prohibition. They can sell milk products, the chief minister plans.
Drink healthy, seems to be the mantra of the 64-year-old chief minister, who is a teetotaller. Mr Kumar said on Sunday that the almost 6000 liquor vends in the state would have the choice of selling products made by Sudha, which is run by the Bihar State Co-Operative Milk Producers Federation Ltd.
This, he said, would give a boost to the state-run entity's business and also provide employment to people running these shops.
Mr Kumar said he was
"absolutely firm" about his plan to impose prohibition in the state, saying it was his "commitment" to Bihar's millions of women, who turned up in record numbers to vote in this year's assembly election and are seen to have voted overwhelmingly for Mr Kumar, whose alliance won a big two-thirds majority in the state.
"There was this apprehension about loss of employment for people involved in this (liquor) trade. So my government will give them the choice of selling Sudha products," the chief minister said on the sidelines of a meeting of his Janata Dal United.
Most liquor shops, Nitish Kumar noted, are in prime locations.
The chief minister has admitted that his government will suffer a loss of anywhere between Rs 3000-3500 crore once the first phase of prohibition kicks in from April 1 next year. He said his government is prepared meet the challenge.
The Bihar government has decided to ban the sale of country-made and spiced liquor in the first phase.
It plans to open de-addiction centres to help people hooked to alcohol.