By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 29 Oct: A bi-monthly meeting of the ‘Parvatiya Varishth Nagrik Jan Adhikar Manch’ was held on 27 October at the Shiv Durga Temple, Sahastradhara Road. The President of PVNJAM, Jitendra Kumar, started the meeting by reciting the Gayatri Mantra. He extended Diwali greetings to all and congratulated members whose birthdays and wedding anniversaries fell during the period since the last meeting.
Members expressed concern at the increasing consumption of liquor at practically all social functions. They were equally concerned about festivities being extended beyond the custom practiced earlier. This put pressure on those who lacked the means to undertake such elaborate practices. But the greatest damage is being done by liquor which is now served practically at all functions.
Members who expressed their views included Maj MLOberoi, Pritam Singh, Bhopal Rai, AM Panthri, Hoshiar Singh, NK Sharma and others. The President of the society said that even the Government was making liquor consumption popular in the urge to earn greater revenue. Brig KG Behl (Retd) pointed out that in the CSD, the rates had been increased by 36%, but the rates in the civil market had remained the same from the year 2013. The production of spurious liquor had also increased. The habits and culture had to be changed. Certain restrictions had to be placed on conspicuous consumption.