These daughters of alcoholics are transforming their village, one issue at a time
Thennamadevi village in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu is home to an alarming number of alcoholics. Married men as young as 21 die, leaving their wives and children to fend for themselves. Many children run away from their homes to escape alcohol-induced abuse. Most of them turn up dead or are never heard from again. But the 'young girls’ club', formed by teenage daughters of alcoholic men, aims to change this scenario.
The club has taken on the responsibility of transforming their village. From fixing street lights to petitioning for transport facilities, the girls are determined to bring about a phenomenal change. The club's president, 16-year old Sowmya, told The Guardian,
“We are trying to transform our village by this process. We are empowered to be leaders.”
In the seven months since it began, the club has successfully fixed street lights, completed a health audit, and brought mobile clinics to Thennamadevi. The girls are also in the process of building a library to instil the value of education in its members. While some girls take care of such community-related issues, others are involved in teaching personal hygiene, self-discipline, and other life skills to younger girls.
Though the girls' endeavours have caught the attention of aid agencies, alcoholism is still rampant, and there is a chance that these addicts could pose a threat to the functioning of the club. So, it is inevitable that any kind of change begins with addressing the problem of alcoholism. However, it is next to impossible in a state where the government has a monopoly over the sale of alcohol. As Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, Head, Department of Psychiatry at Voluntary Health Services, told The Hindu,
“So many families have been ruined, bodies and minds spoilt. It causes socio-economic problems, debts, and depression. No government is willing to stop it because they get revenue from it, but the costs are higher.”
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