Solapur, a rural district of Maharashtra, has always had a problem of illicit liquor production and consumption. However, since January 2021, the Solapur police started strict and regular action against 100 villages where illicit Hath Bhatti liquor were being made in large quantity. Police resorted to a traditional way of raiding the liquor dens and started taking strict actions against the people involved in this illegal business. But the production still continued surreptitiously and so the SP of Solapur (Rural), Ms. Tejaswi Satpute, came up with a plan called ‘Operation Parivartan’.
Interacting with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Satpute shared details about the same.
OPERATION PARIVARTAN
After carrying out multiple raids and taking strict actions against the people involved, the Solapur police realized that the problem of illicit liquor is far from over. That’s when SP Tejaswi Satpute felt the necessity of rehabilitation of the people involved and implementing a full-proof modus operandi to make the liquor business unprofitable. This led to the launch of operation Parivartan in Solapur (Rural) towards the end of August 2021.
THE FOUR COMPONENTS
The Operation Parivartan consists of four components. They are – action, counselling, rehabilitation and awareness among consumers.
“77 hotspots were identified and responsibility of each place was given to parent one officer (Dattak Gram). The largest Hath Bhatti village, Mulegao Tanda, was taken by myself,” said Ms. Satpute.
She further informed that till now more than 750 raids have been done and requisite actions taken in the last one year. In these raids, more than 20,000 litres of illicit liquor and more than 5,00,000 litres of jaggery mixed liquor making raw material were destroyed. More than 918 accused were arrested as well.
COUNSELLING AND REHABILITATION
Further, the officer and her team conducted more than 5000 counselling sessions for the liquor makers and their family members. The aim of the counselling was to motivate them to pursue alternative ways of earning and bring about a change in their life and mindset.
“As a result, many people, who had Hath Bhatti business as well as agriculture lands, shifted to farming completely. Those who did not have land were accommodated in government schemes. Around 700 families have been rehabilitated till date,” the officer told Indian Masterminds.
Some have also pursued alternative livelihoods like grocery store or tea shops, food joints, unskilled/semi-skilled/skilled labour or animal husbandry. The counselling sessions led to a decrease in the production of illicit liquor by around 80%.
Awareness drive is also taking place in the district for the people who consume illicit liquor. The police is convincing them not to consume such poisonous drinks and informing them about the problems they will face.
Apart from this, a skill development training of youth and women was also held with the collaboration of NGOs. 153 youth has been placed in private companies till now while 41 women got placed as sewing machine operator through the Parivartan Udyog Samuh.
PARIVARTAN UDYOG SAMUH
Ms. Satpute said that the they have helped women of the Banjara community to set up a small unit of textile products and handicrafts called, Parivartan Udyog Samuh. “Women of Banjara community possess age old rich skills of hand crafting and embroidery, and to justify their potential and ensure sustainability through the medium of entrepreneurship, we have supported them with raw material, capacity building, and space,” she said.
The women have come up with multiple products like sarees, cushions, wall hanging frames, watches, chunries and shawls. Currently, 215 women are associated with the start-up called Parivartan Banjara Brand.
An exhibition of the products took place in July, when many dignitaries came to encourage the women and the police team. “After seeing the photos of the products made by the Banjara ladies, Collector of Solapur’s friend from Mumbai have placed an order of around 1.75 lakhs for the Diwali festival,” Ms. Satpute informed.
This initiative has positively affected the proportion of incidences of crime, social tensions and domestic violence associated with country liquor. The number of monthly cases has decreased from 262 in September 2021 to 45 in May 2022. It has also helped the marginalised community to come out of the vicious cycle of poverty and live a dignified life through alternative and sustainable livelihood.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
Ms Satpute stressed on the need to provide equal and dignified opportunities to the people who were once into illicit production of liquor. “They didn’t have the choices. That’s why they were doing such activities but now, when they are showing the willingness to come out of it, it’s our responsibility to give a helping hand to them, and not give any tag to them based on our prejudices,” Ms. Satpute said.
The officer received the Smart Policing Award from FICCI on September 2 this year.
