CAMPAIGN MESSAGE

The fast changing lifestyle and the latest trends emerging in the Indian society has very little “Indianess” left in it and rather looks more like any other western society. The individual in this transforming Indian society, in thought and action, behaves more like a western and less as an Indian. The invasion of western culture and lifestyle in to our drawing rooms and board rooms are there to be seen by all. One of the consequences of this cultural invasion is that the Indian society is facing the precipice called Addiction.
The changes in man’s attitude to life and his actions are putting to shame the time honored human dignity and his life has reached its abyss of lowly behavior. One commonly observes in life that some people become so overwhelmed by greed, selfishness, lustfulness, addiction, meanness, rage and fury and such other traits that morally they have actually reduced themselves to lowest of the low. There are numerous examples around us and if the human acts be listed here time and space would be irrelevant. There is no species of animals in the world which may equal these human shameful mis-deeds and barbarity in any degree.
In Goa, the westernized outlook to life  has finally caught up with us and the easy accessibility to alcohol, changing lifestyle, increasing casinos, bars and taverns, disposable income, peer pressure, loneliness, delusions clubbed with tourism policy has had a catalytic effect on cases of alcoholism and other addiction.  All that Goa is famous for is aggressively knocking at our doors and demanding a pay-back with “social cost” as its currency. An alarm bell ignored all along can no longer be snoozed.
A rate of close to 10% of deaths recorded in Goa medical college alone is directly linked to alcohol, more than 20% of the  admissions in hospitals  is again associated with sickness due to  alcohol, youngsters in the age group of 18 to 35 are those increasingly showing signs of alcoholism,  road accidents snatches away many a young life driving and riding under the influence of alcohol, violence against women and children, extra-marital sexual relationships, disintegrating families are all the bitter fruits of addiction. Consumption of alcohol during college functions leading to brawls and fights has forced colleges to put an end to many students Festivals. Industrial accidents, absenteeism, increased borrowing leading to debt traps; suicides, rehabilitation etc. Are also the bitter fruits of policies adopted.
The shrewdness of alcohol companies to gain a foothold and social acceptance for their products is an area that needs to be dealt at the levels of legislature as well as social action.  The marketing strategy adopted by the companies like sponsoring social events associated with youth and students such as sports by sponsoring sports teams and sports equipments and also  sponsoring events  associated with art and culture  and promoting their products through surrogate advertisements has great impact on youth. Print and electronic media are not behind but in the forefront in accepting proxy advertisements knowing the purpose of the ads and hence they need to be educated of their social responsibility.
What has caused greater damage is the social acceptance of consuming alcohol at family occasions. Every family event and celebration in Goa calls for the use of alcohol which directly influences the impressionable minds to take to drinking at an early age. Many a times, elders lack the moral stature to advice the younger generation of the dangers of drinking. Terms such as casual drinking and social drinking are coined to gain acceptance. More than ten thousand alcohol outlets and availability of alcohol in every nook are foundations for drowning Goa in the ocean of alcohol. Peer pressure, family and friends mostly influence and introduce alcohol for the first time in an individual’s life just to look and appear cool and sync with changing times and culture.
Social scientists , psychologists, doctors, NGO’s, activists, individuals  and religious heads have at all times tried to caution the society of the these consequences but  the revenue generation and lobbying from  the industry  stake holders is  so  enormous that the warnings are  ignored . Selfishness and greed blinds the heart as well the intellect, it blinds the otherwise cautious and reasoning individual and society too, resulting in a free hand for the industry in the business of destroying lives.
What then is the hope for the distinguished and dignified mankind who needs to rise from these depths and work to uphold his honor of being the best of God’s creation?  We have always sought refuge with the Creator in our difficult times individually and collectively. so let us yet again reaffirm our commitment and fall back on His guidance available to all. Let us adopt the spiritual road to de-addicting our individual and collective lives of the vice of alcohol and other addictive substance such as drugs, tobacco and gambling. Let us resolve to abstain from using, manufacturing, transporting, selling, gifting alcohol. Let us demand policies to control the influence of alcohol over our lives.
Jamaat-E-Islami Hind – Goa invites each one of you to join hands and dedicate yourself to the cause of exerting pressure on the administration to change its present outlook and attitude towards alcohol and ask the authorities to come out with effective policy in discouraging alcohol industries, to curb the use of alcohol and other addictive products in the state of Goa. We ask you to come forward and educate the masses of the ill-effects of alcohol and other addictions. We look forward to you to discourage the use of alcohol amongst your family, friends and organization or institution you belong. Lastly but importantly your strength for  this cause can be derived from none but  the sense of responsibility as a member of the human  brotherhood towards the Creator who guides you and  instructs you to uphold  human life and live a life illuminated by the creator’s perfect wisdom.