In the 20 days since total prohibition was announced in Bihar, the de-addiction centre in Nalanda has treated nearly 200 people.
Patna:
Just 30 km from Bihar capital Patna, a board at the entry to Lodipur village reads, "No more alcohol, I'll live a complete life." The board proclaims the stand of the state's women, at whose insistence, says Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he pushed for full scale prohibition 6 months ahead of its time.
Younger women of the village, like Soni Kumari, say prohibition has brought peace in the village. "People used to get drunk and tease women and act badly with girls," said the 22-year-old.
In Mr Kumar's home district Nalanda, the local hospital has got a new de-addiction centre, complete with two air-conditioners, a flat screen TV and 10 beds, two doctors and three nurses.
At the time NDTV visited, a 60-year-old man was the only patient. Since the Centre opened 20 days ago, 184 patients have come in, 22 were hospitalised and discharged, the doctors said. Centre in-charge Dr Shailendra Sinha expects a bigger rush "once there is more publicity".
A chronic drinker for the last 40 years, the last patient said he would do his best to quit drinking. "I want to live more. Two of my children are yet to be married," he added.
Since prohibition was announced, over 500 hooch units have been raided and over 50,000 litres of alcohol destroyed across the state, the police say. The real challenge for the Bihar government, though, will be policing state borders.
At the state border in Nawada district's Rajauli, a new liquor shop has opened on the Jharkhand side. Some more are in the offing. Three constables and an excise department team have been stationed at the spot to check the thousands of vehicles that come in.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said this is an issue on which he expects "cooperation" from other states. The Jharkhand government is yet to respond.
Bihar has not banned the sale of toddy, but the police are implementing a law that mandates no sale or consumption in public places. Toddy sellers in Bihar are mostly Pasis, a mahadalit community and Mr Kumar's votebank.
Younger women of the village, like Soni Kumari, say prohibition has brought peace in the village. "People used to get drunk and tease women and act badly with girls," said the 22-year-old.
In Mr Kumar's home district Nalanda, the local hospital has got a new de-addiction centre, complete with two air-conditioners, a flat screen TV and 10 beds, two doctors and three nurses.
At the time NDTV visited, a 60-year-old man was the only patient. Since the Centre opened 20 days ago, 184 patients have come in, 22 were hospitalised and discharged, the doctors said. Centre in-charge Dr Shailendra Sinha expects a bigger rush "once there is more publicity".
A chronic drinker for the last 40 years, the last patient said he would do his best to quit drinking. "I want to live more. Two of my children are yet to be married," he added.
Since prohibition was announced, over 500 hooch units have been raided and over 50,000 litres of alcohol destroyed across the state, the police say. The real challenge for the Bihar government, though, will be policing state borders.
At the state border in Nawada district's Rajauli, a new liquor shop has opened on the Jharkhand side. Some more are in the offing. Three constables and an excise department team have been stationed at the spot to check the thousands of vehicles that come in.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said this is an issue on which he expects "cooperation" from other states. The Jharkhand government is yet to respond.
Bihar has not banned the sale of toddy, but the police are implementing a law that mandates no sale or consumption in public places. Toddy sellers in Bihar are mostly Pasis, a mahadalit community and Mr Kumar's votebank.
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