The education department in Bihar has hit upon a novel scheme to curb alcoholism. The government plans to employ children to put psychological pressure on their parents to commit to abstinence, according to the Indian Express. The parents will have to "give in writing" to their children that they would not drink, helping Bihar's transition to a sober state from 1 April, 2016.
The Nitish Kumar government has banned the sale of alcohol in the state from the first of April, keeping a poll promise to women voters in the run up to the Assembly Elections.
“Let people criticise us, but they cannot know from Patna what kind of social churning this upcoming liquor ban has already started in rural parts of Bihar. This will prove a big tool for women’s empowerment. We are engaging students because it would psychologically put pressure on the parents once they would give in writing to their children that they would not drink,” the Express quoted the CM as saying.
The state's education department will seek a commitment from fathers of students of primary and secondary schools to not drink alcohol, the report said, adding that private schools are exempt from this but were free to follow the model on their own.
Currently, there's a complete alcohol ban in Gujarat, Kerala, Nagaland and Lakshadweep and a partial ban in Manipur.
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