Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Dec 21: Nestled between the Arabian Sea and the Phalguni River, the picturesque coastal village of
Bengre in Mangaluru has remained alcohol-free for over three decades. The village has no liquor shops or bars, and residents have collectively enforced a self-imposed ban on alcohol sales for the past 30 years.
The movement was initiated in 1994 by Dhananjaya Putran Bengre, former president of the Bengre Mahajana Sabha and a senior member of the fishing community, who took a pledge against liquor sales in the village. He told The New Indian Express that five government-licensed liquor shops and illegal distilleries in the area were successfully shut down.
Women from the Mogaveera and Karvi communities initially approached village leaders, raising concerns over rising domestic violence due to alcohol abuse among men. They urged the leaders to curb alcohol sales and reduce related social problems.
Bengre has over 500 households. To encourage villagers to support the anti-alcohol campaign, the Mahajana Sabha organised meetings with those operating liquor outlets and illicit brewing units, creating awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.
“When we took the pledge, I was the president of the Bengre Mahajana Sabha. In the presence of S K Ameen at the Mahavishnu Sheshashayana Bhajana Mandir, we pledged to ban alcohol. At that time, our village had five legal liquor shops along with illicit brewing units,” Dhananjaya recalled.
Some residents had also been selling beer locally. He added, “Together with community leaders, especially women, we resolved to stop alcohol sales in Tota Bengre, Kasba Bengre, Kudroli Bengre and Bokkapatna Bengre. Our collective determination has ensured that the ban continues even today.”
“Every family in Bengre depends entirely on fishing. With reduced alcohol consumption, education levels in our village have improved. Literacy now exceeds 95 per cent, and there are even double degree holders among us,” said a woman from the Tota Bengre fishing community.
Villagers have also opposed the sale of tobacco products. Most shops in Tota Bengre have banned the sale of liquor and tobacco, and residents impose fines on those found selling tobacco products.