SOLAPUR, Jan 25: Shunned by society and unable to find work to make ends meet, leprosy patients of Ekatmata Jivan Vikas Nagar at Kumta Nagar in Solapur have been brewing illicit liquor, the Haathbhattis helping them eke a living. At least 65 families have been operating bhattis on the sly in their homes.With plenty of takers for the illicit brew, business has been good. Or, so they thought. But on November 18 last year, the police raided this colony and smashed the bhattis. Ever since, the leprosy patients have been lying low, waiting for the dust to settle before they resume selling their concoction.
``There are many people who do not have qualms about buying liquor from the leprosy afflicted,'' says Dr Suparna Telang, a practicing physician in Solapur. ``Infected patients may contaminate the vessels that are used to brew or serve the liquor. It is definitely not good for consumption.''
Solapur Police Commissioner Ahmed Javed admits ``this is a problem though we do conduct raids on these colonies.''
He says the number of raids is not important ``because I may seize 10 litres every day but they can still sell 90.''
Javed claims the November 18 raid succeeded because sale of desi daaru in country liquor shops went up after consumers realised that purchasing it from the leprosy patients was not possible. ``Compared to the December 1996, sale of desi daaru (produced under a government license) increased by 298 per cent, an indicator of the efficacy of our efforts.''
``After the raid, the lepers came to us and asked for jobs. But no one was willing to employ a person disfigured with leprosy. Some of them find liquor brewing an easy way to make money. I am speaking to people to get them jobs. Even if I get a job for one leprosy disabled person, it will prove the point that they can be helped,'' maintains Javed.
While Javed's efforts are laudable, getting a job for not only a leprosy disabled but even their unaffected family members is not easy. Mehboob Vyapari says getting a job is impossible. He
blames the government for ``not caring about people like us.''
The police raid on the bhattis has hit them hard. Gopal Mane, not afflicted by leprosy, used to earn Rs 40-45 a day by selling illicit liquor. ``I have five children and the haathbhatti is the only option I am left with. I tried getting a job at the powerlooms. But the moment people came to know that I lived in Kumta Nagar with my parents who are leprosy patients, I was shown the door.''
The leprosy afflicted engaged in the illicit liquor trade admit is that illicit liquor is sold in the colony itself. The police commissioner admits that people won't give them jobs, but will drink their daaru.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
