The use of liquor in Indian culture has been quite widespread ever since our ancient history, although our society today condemns it and sees it as an act of shame. Excessive use of liquor has devastating effects on the moral, physical and economical well-being of a person. While it's use in royal families and by rich people can be taken as their hobby, its regular use in rural societies where the family’s livelihood is dependent on daily wages is very pathetic. Poonam Chand a resident of Kankan village in Kherwara tehsil has a related story. Due to his regular habit of drinking his family was on the verge of breaking up. However, the gram vikas committee's (GVC) initiative not only got rid of his drinking habits but also eased his family from daily tensions.

Poonam Chand is a Mason by profession and earns approximately Rs. 125 - 150/- per day. But due to his regular drinking habit a large part of his earning went into buying alcohol, and after drinking he would beat-up his wife, Varki Devi. Consequently domestic tensions were a daily feature also. In fact Poonam Chand did not even get his wife treated who was ill for a long time. Mrs. Varki Devi was in touch with Seva Mandir since 1987-88 and used to attend Kankan Samuh's meetings. Presently, Varki Devi is a member of Gram Vikas Committee and Bachat Samiti. When she got fed up with regular beating at home, she got in touch with the Zonal Coordinator of Seva Mandir. The Zonal Coordinator, in turn, discussed the matter with the President of Kankan GVC, Mr. Badan Lal and Accountant, Mr. Laxman and requested them to resolve the problem at the village level. The Kankan GVC deliberated the issue at the February monthly meeting and decided that the Committee will meet Poonam Chand. A team was formed that met Poonam Chand, reasoned with him and instructed him not to drink liquor in future. Due to strictness of the Committee Poonam Chand gave an assurance in writing to the Committee that he will never drink liquor in future and nor beat his wife. Along with this he also agreed that if he does so he will accept any kind of punishment given by his wife. Due to this initiative of the Committee the beating and regular tensions in the family have stopped. This Committee of Kankan met the family of Poonam Chand after 15-20 days and found that drinking and beating has stopped in the family and their living happily.

Not only Poonam Chand's family, the Committee in Kankan did a survey of 131 family in the village and found that a total of 32 people drink and out of these 12 persons are regularly addicted to drinking. The Committee has taken on the challenge to get them all to quit their drinking habits. For this, the Committee is calculating the total amount spent by a person on drinking for one year and showing it to them, making them aware of disadvantages of drinking liquor and making it clear to them to quit this bad habit. Recently due to the efforts of the Committee, Chetan a resident of the village has agree to quit drinking. In this manner, this Committee is trying to solve the disputes arising due to drinking liquor and the habit of drinking continuously and with full awareness. In the present scenario, the Committees that are formed in the villages are working towards total development and along with this bringing about creative changes in the village. Slowly and slowly Committees are gaining social acceptance. We are assure that such initiatives of the Committees will bring positive results in the future.