AITUC threatens agitation against Kerala’s new liquor policy

The new liquor policy of the Kerala government has been challenged by the trade union wing of CPI, and the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). It has been announced that an agitation would be started against it.

K P Rajendran, the General Secretary of AITUC, claims that despite LDF's prior approval, the liquor policy unveiled on 26th July 2023 does not mention the formation of a ‘toddy board.’ The policy, according to AITUC, will further destroy the toddy sector in Kerala. To conserve and promote the toddy industry of the state, one of the southern state's well-known cottage enterprises, LDF called for establishing of a toddy board. The foundation for the establishment had been laid by the previous UDF administration.

However, Rajendran asserted that it was the LDF government that had drafted and successfully advanced a bill for the establishment of the Kerala Toddy Development Board in the Assembly.

The proposed toddy bars and parlours can only be launched successfully, according to the AITUC Chief, if the toddy board is established. Only a toddy corporation comprising toddy tappers may sell toddy in Kerala. Rajendran claimed that the new policy had also not addressed the need to shorten the toddy shop distance requirement.