Madhya Pradesh minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha has stirred a massive controversy with his unconventional suggestions for alcohol de-addiction. His remarks, advocating that men should drink alcohol at home in front of their families and that women should refuse to cook for drunk husbands, have drawn widespread criticism.Ministers Controversial AdviceSpeaking at a Nasha Mukti Abhiyan program in Bhopal, Kushwaha suggested that wives should tell their husbands to drink at home rather than outside. Those men who come home after consuming liquor, their wives should tell them to bring the liquor home and drink it. If they consume alcohol in front of women and children at home, they will feel ashamed, and it will gradually help them get rid of the addiction, the minister said.बाहर पीने वाले पतियों से कहें शराब घर लाकर पिएं- महिला बच्चों के सामने शराब पियेंगे तो उन्हें शर्म आएगी,शराब पीने वालों को महिलाएं बेलन दिखाएं, शराब पीकर घर आने वालों को खाना बनाकर मत दोमहिलाएं कम्युनिटी बनाएं, बेलन गैंग बनाएं - सामाजिक न्याय मंत्री नारायण सिंह कुशवाह pic.twitter.com/tCq3Uqe7GL— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) June 28, 2024Formation of Belan GangsIn addition to not cooking for their intoxicated spouses, Kushwaha advised women to scare their husbands with a rolling pin, or belan, and form belan gangs with other women in the community. These gangs, he suggested, would help discourage men from drinking. Women should not cook food for those who come home after consuming alcohol. Women should make belan gangs and show belan to those who come home after consuming liquor, he said. He acknowledged that social values might prevent some from following this advice but argued that values should not obstruct efforts to stop wrongdoing.Liquor Ban Under ConsiderationKushwaha also touched upon the topic of a potential liquor ban in Madhya Pradesh. I had suggested a liquor ban in the previous tenure. But in states where liquor is banned, it is seen even there. A liquor ban in the state is under consideration at the government level. The central and state governments can decide on this in the future. Liquor ban can be done through public awareness, he told a news agency.The ministers comments have sparked a debate about the effectiveness and appropriateness of his proposed methods, with many criticising the advice as impractical and controversial. As discussions continue, the focus remains on finding effective solutions to combat alcohol addiction in the state.
