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Journalism of Courage
Goa,a cheap liquor destination,is shedding its image as a land of tipplers,claim NGOs which maintain that several people are skipping their glass of booze.
Alcoholics Anonymous,the liquor de-addiction support group,and Swami Ramdevs Patanjali Yog Samiti are counselling and persuading people to kick the bottle forever.
Renowned yoga guru Swami Ramdev and his disciples are making efforts to bring a difference in the lives of people by encouraging them to leave the habit.
People can achieve freedom from diseases and addictions through yoga. From the time we started our classes in Goa,the liquor consumption has gone down tremendously, Ramdev told reporters during a recent visit to the state.
We get boys as young as 19 years old who want to leave alcohol. We talk to them and get connected to the thought of leaving alcohol, Edmond C,a member of international NGO Alcoholics Anonymous (AA),told PTI.
The NGO has around 66 active groups in the tourist state engaged in reaching out to the people addicted to alcohol.
Its not an easy task. When we speak to the people,we usually go in a group of two or more. Many a time we are verbally abused and sent back, Edmond,who was an alcoholic earlier,said.
Edmond (67) is one of the most senior AA members and is associated with the NGO since 1982. He got to know about AA when he was in Mumbai.
The coastal state,touted as land of fun and fenny (local liquor) has around 9,000 licenced bars and an equal number of unlicensed outlets.
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