New Enterprise: Unemployed young people gathered in the Community Hall in Chennai 27 December 2003 to participate in the recruitment of supervisors and Salemen for Tasmac, which a month earlier the retail sale of liqueur began. | Photo Credit: Hindic Archives
Tamil Nadu did not have a consistent policy with regard to the sale of spirits after independence until the beginning of 2000. Subsequent governments led by DMK and AIADMK oscillated from one extreme to another. In 1937, C. Rajagopalachari, the main Minister of Presidency in Madras, was introduced in the Salem district. Later it was extended to other districts and the ban was in force until 1971. The DMK government, headed by M. Karunanidhi, suspended it in 1971 and allowed the sale of Arrack and Toddy. However, the sale was stopped in 1974. Then there were two hooch tragedies in 1975 and 1976.
In 1981, the AIADMK government headed by MG Ramacandran (Mgr) again introduced the sale of Arrack and Toddy. In 1987, the sale of Arrack and Toddy was banned again. In 1988 and 1990, the illegal liqueur claimed many lives in Tamil Nadu. In 1990, when the DMK was in power, the sale of Arrack and Toddy was revived and continued until July 16, 1991. After Aiadmk came to power in 1991, the main Minister Jayalalithaa announced the ban on the sale of Arrack and Toddy. Many deaths have been reported after the policy change due to the consumption of illegal liqueur. According to a government official, the death of a large number of people from the sale of Arrack and Toddy was banned in 1991 “indicates the need to sell a safe liqueur at an affordable price for the poor,” said the report in the front line, the sister publication of the Hindu.
Increasing income
In 1983, the Government Mgr decided to take over wholesale trade in Arrack and the Indian created foreign ghosts (IMF) with effect from 1 June 1983. The report in Hinda on 28 May 1983 said the Governor Sundar Lal Khurana declared this effect. For retailers, a public sector was created, known as Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) Limited to make the Arrack and IMF offer.
The report stated that the question of the explanatory statement added to the Regulation stated that the question of the government tookover from the private sector was stimulated by the government for some time by the government. The Commissioner for Prohibition and Excuted Tax also proposed to take over wholesale trade to increase revenue.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Regulation, which changed the 1937 Tamil Prohibition Act, the validity of all wholesale licenses of the private sector in terms of line -up and IMF is expected to expire on 31 May 1983.
Batch
Incorrect practices were reported in the retail sale of liqueur. To check this, the government introduced a batch system in 2001-02. Within this system, which replaced the auction, trade applicants were identified on the basis of land after they agreed to pay the amount set for each trade on the basis of potential income. Despite the introduction of batches of cartels, they ensured that a large number of shops remained unaocational. In 2002-03, only 5,300 out of 7,000 announced stores could be auctioned due to cartelization, Hindu reported.
“The intention of the groups was to control the retail market and cause loss of income to the state government. The fact that many people have withdrawn after the austegront of trades and sought a refund that cartelization was not excluded,” said the report in these newspapers quoting a government press release.
Selection based on merit
To avoid selling fake and smuggled liqueur and take note of the adverse effects of cartelization and turning of trades, as well as other inconsistencies, such as violations of the maximum retail price set by the state, the government for the selection of applicants for selecting applicants for the selection of applicants for teaching retail stores announced.
This was to be carried out by constitutions of selection committees at the level of the district consisting of two court officials in retirement, not under the rank of MunSIF. But by far it violates the cartels, the system has led to a reduction in the number of applicants, although many of them have purchased applications forms, the report is said.
The government realized that it was necessary to take fixed steps to postpone cartels that seriously influenced the retail of the IMF. “Given the incorrect cartels, the state has lost revenue. Despite the state -owned Tasmac, which treated wholesale trade, the privacy of the IMF retailers indulged in negligible practices. The maximum retail price also violated.”
Serious health risks
The government accused retailers of negotiations against consumers’ interest and emphasized in the issue that unfair business practices represent serious risks of public health. The government was convinced that the only way to break the cartels is to leave the state retail store with retail trade. Another report in Hindu on 27 January 2003, which quotes the official press release, said: “Tasmac and its agency, namely cooperatives, will be provided by retail. With effect from November 29, 2003, Tasmac also started sales sales. This system is still fashionable today.
Published – 29 April 2025 9:39
