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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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New model to deal with illicit liquor, alcoholism on estates by Gamini Warushamana Balasubramanium who lives in the Hunnasgiriya estate, Elkaduwa is an illicit drug brewer and seller. He was arrested recently by the police and produced before the Court and fined Rs. 50,000. Subramanium continues the illicit trade to raise money to pay the fine. Thangavelu (68), an alcoholic is suffering from cirrhosis. He used to help himself to his father's alcohol from the age of twelve. These are some examples of the illicit drug trade and drug addicted plantation community who are in the vicious cycle of poverty and alcoholism. Generations of estate people, especially those on upcountry tea estates are addicted to alcohol and today it is a major socio-economic issue in the sector. Labour productivity is affected as health deteriorates while children are malnourished. The Alcohol Prevention program needs a new dimension apart from posters and stickers in this impoverished estate sector. Prevention A different model of prevention of alcohol is now being implemented in the Hunnasgiriya and Elkaduwa estates. A survey conducted in Hapuwida division of the Hunnasgiriya estate revealed that at least one person in each household is addicted to alcohol. "It needs more practical measures linking deep rooted socio-economic problems of these people", said sociologist and community development consultant Nisadi Somarathne. Nisadi is the author of this new concept implemented in the Hunasgiriya estate. In the Hapuwida division, poor road access is one major reason for high alcohol addiction, she said. People in the area are isolated in a pocket. Children do not attend schools. People's mobility is limited and the only mobile person in this pocket is the illicit alcohol seller. They have no link with nearby cities, no recreation and therefore people are frustrated. Geographical isolation Geographical isolation, climate, exploitation and heavy work are the reasons for the higher level of alcohol addiction in the estate sector. In the estate sector, people don't have their own land. Human relations are different from rural or urban sectors. There are physiological reasons too. In the sector, most of the plantation workers and off plantation workers are addicted to alcohol. In the new model people are firstly educated on the adverse effects of alcoholism. Volunteers are trained to conduct family educational programs. The police are also involved in educating people and it is believed that before enforcing the law and punishing people they should be made aware about the law. Brewers and sellers are warned and educated about the law. Sellers and brewers are trained in some skills to engage in alternative employment. Though it is a highly profitable trade social attitudes, risk and resistance from family members influence them to give up this illegal trade. Therefore prevention in the supply side too is possible. Options have been provided through skills development programs for idle youth. The estate infrastructure has to be developed. Roads, playgrounds, community centres and libraries have to be constructed. Sinna Thambi, who used to consume alcohol got a job recently as a factory watcher of the Hunnasgiriya Estate. His contract is conditional and he would lose his job if he consumes alcohol. Not only estate employment, other benefits such as housing loans are bounded by non-alcoholic conditions. Real roots identified The new model was started in the Hunnasgiriya estate two years ago. It has shown a positive development and alcohol consumption has reduced by 30% in the estate, Nisadi said. However, in the Hunnasgiriya estate the infrastructure aspects were not considered because the real roots of the problem were identified by working with the people. In the Elkaduwa estate the model was developed and included in the infrastructure aspects too.The multi stakeholder program is financially assisted by Plan International and Care. Technical assistance is provided by Methsevena, Dangerous Drug Control Authority's Kandy branch. The police, Plantation company and other government institutions also assist the project. The project will be expanded to the Pitakanda estate in the near future, Nisadi said. Alcoholism is only one social problem in this most impoverished sector of Sri Lanka. All indicators prove that the estate sector is below the average country level. According to the latest statistics 7.9% of the estate population is below the national poverty line compared to 5.6% in the rural and 1.7% of the urban sectors. The literacy rate is 66.1% compared to 86.6% all island and 52.1% of children under five years are under weight, comparatively higher than those in the urban and rural sectors. Since the plantation economy is declining or stagnant economic activities are not improving to help people to overcome poverty. Isolated efforts of individuals and NGOs are commendable but it needs
well planned government intervention with a long-term vision for the estate
sector. |
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