Gujarat minister tells tribal parents consume alcohol, but up to limit

In his speech at the annual Shala Praveshotsav in the primary school of Antroli village of Chhota Udaipur district, Gamit urged parents accompanying the tribal wards to “consume less alcohol” so as to be in a “sober state” during usual days.

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Gamit said, “People like us who consume alcoh0l or palm wine (tadi), have fights at homes. If anyone of you is into drinking, you must drink in limits. I am not saying that you should give up drinking alcohol. But, we tribals, do not have any limits (for drinking). Once we sit down to drink, we can spend the entire day in an inebriated state. All wives mut lovingly explain (to their husbands). Yes, in case of an occasion like a wedding or a festival, if you have had an extra drink or two, it is acceptable because we are tribals. But, if you are into alcohol from morning to evening, you must measure your drink.”

Gamit’s comments come at a time when Ministers at the Praveshotsav events across the state are urging parents to participate in the academic welfare of their children. The village Antroli is remote and almost inaccessible in the district, with only one teacher to conduct classes from Class I to V.

The Minister, who distributed books to the students in a cloth bag, promised to petition the state government to recruit more teachers for the school with immediate effect. Officials added that while usually there are donors who sponsor school bags for children during the Praveshotsav events, this year, the authorities were unable to seek any donations to procure school bags. As a result, the Minister handed out books to the students in disposable cloth bags.