Decriminalize Chhara women bootleggers who wish to change, recommends PDPU

When Dayiben left bootlegging, cops continued to raid her house even after a year. It took a year for them to develop trust, she says. Dayiben is one of those from Chhara community who wishes to change and shows commitment towards the rehabilitation programme initiated by the Ahmedabad city police.

For this programme to go a long way, an impact assessment report, undertaken by Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) has recommended that those who wish to change and show commitment should be decriminalized.

Two professors along with 40 students of School of Liberal Studies at PDPU studied the impact assessment of the programme 'Sakhi Sahay' project, that enables women bootleggers of Chhara community to leave their tainted past behind and earn a living through creative skills and training.

The city police has allocated two rooms where women learn handicraft jewellery making, stiching, etc. A total of 200 women have enlisted themselves with the NGO.

Principal investigator Dr Ritu Sharma, Assistant professor and head of department, Psychology project co-investigator professor Neeta Khuranna, senior faculty in Department of Language, Literature and Aesthetics at PDPU interviewed around 60 such bootleggers to understand their story, their concerns and issues at large.

Elaborating on the striking recommedations, professor Khuranna said, "Many of the women of the Chhara community have resorted to bootlegging, shoplifting and selling alcohol as they have had no option after their husbands demise. And hence these criminal activities become an easy route to earn money on a daily basis. Many old widows find it convenient to make this ilicit liquor and find it a lucrative trade and enterprise.

This is a very slow process and hence we found that the initiative has begun on a positive note. But the biggest difference will be made once the industry intervention happens. For example, at PDPU, we have opted to give momentoes made by these women to our guests at events. They need a permanent income and hence government emporiams and cooperatives too can play a major role."

Bootleggers share their story:

Malaben, a 57-year-old woman and a mother of seven children from the community became a thief after her husbands' demise. Sharing her story, she said, "I took up shoplifting and theft after the death of my husband so that I could raise my seven children and cater to the needs of such a large family. I do not have any support from my relatives and it was because of compulsions of being a widow, I joined a group and used to go to loot. During one such incident, I was caught by the police and booked for theft. They warned me against such activities and told us about the skills workshop. Later, I enrolled in 'Meenakari' workshop."

Another 49-year-old said, "I used to brew illicit liquor earlier so that I could take care of the needs of my family. My husband despite being graduate could not avail a job. Eventually, he started drinking and became a drunkard and totally gave taking care of us. Because of bootlegging, cops used to raid my house four to five times a month. Whatever little money I used to save was borrowed by my relatives, which they never returned.

When I feared to get caught and jailed, I stopped the activities. However, the cops kept raiding my house for a year despite me stopping it."

SURVEY FINDINGS:

• 80% had willingness to get guidance on loan and government schemes
   
• 43% fell in categories like widow, divorced and unmarried
   
• 50% of them had average family incomme below Rs 5000

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Scholarships for children of these women who show commitment
   
• Industry intervention for sustainability of this project
   
• Bank loans should be made available
   
• Concept of peer educators
   
• Restorative justice will help
   
• National and international visibility of the good work should be undertaken
   
• Aggressive marketing of finished products, affiliated to government emporiums