Kerala women can check alcoholism, says prez

Expressing concern over the “rampant” rise in alcoholism in Kerala, President Pratibha Patil on Monday said it is surprising to see such a trend in a state where social indicators are impressive and women have taken remarkable strides.

Expressing concern over the “rampant” rise in alcoholism in Kerala, President Pratibha Patil on Monday said it is surprising to see such a trend in a state where social indicators are impressive and women have taken remarkable strides.

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Addressing the National Conference of All India Federation of Women Lawyers, Patil said the women of the state have made remarkable achievements in the legal field.

Moreover, the state’s social indicators are also impressive. It is a state where population of women is over 51 per cent and women’s literacy rate was 88 per cent, highest in India, Patil remarked.

“However, I am surprised to learn in spite of this, alcoholism is rampant and women are worst sufferers. Similarly, dowry system persists and continues to be a major problem here,” she said.

Her remarks come in the wake of Kerala registering a record Rs 45 crore liquor sales during this Christmas season.

“Women have great potential to bring change in the society and that is why I’m asking them to take the lead. Evils like child marriage, female foeticide, female infanticide and dowry needs to be addressed,” she said.