Implementation of the new liquor policy has brought down liquor consumption in the State, Excise Minister K. Babu has said.
Addressing a meeting of trade union leaders on rehabilitating bar workers here on Friday, Mr. Babu said as per the figures furnished by the Kerala State Beverages Corporation, the sale of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) had dropped by 4 cent and beer by 7 per cent, but the income on this score had increased. While the sale proceeds from IMFL till September 2013 had been pegged at Rs.4,578 crore, it had increased to Rs.4,939 crore till September this year. This was owing to the decision to levy a 5 per cent cess and the hike in tax.
The government was planning to introduce a rehabilitation package based on the records of the Labour Department, Mr. Babu said. As many as 7,643 workers had registered with the welfare fund boards. The case of unregistered workers would be considered later. Punarjani 2030, a rehabilitation package, had been planned for the workers.
Published - October 25, 2014 04:43 am IST