illicit Revenues

The move by AP Government to give out more liquor licenses to shore up state revenues reflects the government’s lack of responsibility towards citizens and total bankruptcy of ideas.

If you were to drive on the National or State highways in AP, Karnataka and many other states in India all you find are liquor shops dotted all along the route. No wonder the increasing number of road accidents in the country are related to drunken driving. It is common to find intoxicated men walking unsteadily on roads during late evenings.

The spurt of liquor shops in small towns and villages is an ugly site along the entire landscape of the state and country. That all these bids are backed by political leadership speaks volumes about social responsibility of our leaders (it is being said that powerful political leaders beat up bidders who are not aligned to their interests).

The human cost of allowing liquor shops to prosper is something government is caring a hoot. With little or no health care or insurance coverage to its citizens Government is basically pushing the alcoholics and their families over the cliff.
Instead of strengthening the revenue collection and prevent leakage from its genuine sources Government is adopting an easy way out to shore up revenues with total irresponsibility towards its citizen and community welfare.

With such a fine set of economists in the planning commission and in the bureaucracy at the center and state I am surprised that this is the best idea they could come up with to raise revenues.