Patna: Past memories haunt her like nothing else. Teary eyes, a swollen face and bruises across her body had become her identity. Every evening, her husband would stagger home drunk, liquor bottle in hand, hurl abuses and assault her if she failed to respond quickly to his demands. Meanwhile, their children, gripped by fear, would lock themselves inside a room, trying to shut out the chaos.Not anymore now. “Pehle shaam hote hi darr lagta tha. Pati sharab peekar aate the aur ghar mein jhagda hota tha. Ab sharab band hone ke baad ghar mein shanti hai. Bachche bhi khul ke hansne lage hain (Earlier, I used to be scared as soon as evening came. My husband would come home drunk, and there would be fights in the house. Now, with the alcohol ban, there is peace in the house. Even the children have started laughing freely),” said Rani Devi, 45, wife of Pappu Kasera from Nawanagar in Buxar district.Pappu has three daughters. One is already married in Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, while the two are studying in Class XI and IX in Nawanagar High School. Now, Pappu sells utensils to eke out a livelihood, living in perfect harmony with his family.Despite criticism, liquor ban has brought remarkable changes in the life of women in the countryside as they lead lives with dignity, pride and confidence. Even as incidents of domestic violence have declined sharply, the village lanes and city streets—once echoing with alcohol-fuelled abuse and chaos—now remain largely calm.Well, some people might still have access to the illegal liquor, as is evident by the hooch deaths in some parts of the state, yet the streets remain calm as the people go quietly due to fear of law.From west to east and north to south, happiness grips the faces of women as their tipsy husbands have largely been tamed.“Prior to liquor ban, my husband would often come home drunk and beat me. Despite several interventions by the village panchayat and social groups, his behaviour would only improve temporarily before returning to violence,” says Asha Devi, 43, adjusting sari pallu on her head. She is wife of Pradeep Mahto, who is a farm worker. However, after the implementation of prohibition, she notices a significant change on the ground. “Now my husband goes for farm work regularly, and I am also working through a self-help group under Jeevika,” she added.Poonam Devi from Araria district is happy with the change in family life but is shocked to find a large number of youths addicted to drugs. Rinky Devi, 26, from the same district said she was very pleased to know about the ban but it did not work well as liquor is still available, though stealthily.According to a recent study conducted by the Chanakya National Law University and AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna, there is a relatively greater sense of security among women after liquor ban. “It is found that as high as around 91% of respondents viewed there has been reduction of domestic violence following the liquor ban,” the study said.“The improved status of women is also reflected through the increased women’s involvement in political activities. People view that after the liquor ban women have become more interested in electoral politics, they are now more free to cast their vote, they have become more conscious in selecting people’s representatives,” the study said. The study also found an increase in women’s role in economic activities post-liquor ban.Senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari alleged initially former CM Nitish Kumar promoted liquor supply to increase the state’s revenue, but later enforced prohibition when the women folk went on protesting on the streets. But the JD(U) described liquor ban a great success. “Liquor ban has brought tremendous social change in society. This was the result of prohibition that we got maximum votes of the women in the elections. Now, no party can dare to lift the ban,” JD(U) lawmaker Neeraj Kumar said.
