The IT sector in Kerala has expressed the fear that the proposed plan for total prohibition will adversely impact the growth and development of IT industry in the State.

The decision will send out a wrong signal that Kerala is grossly underdeveloped as a State and therefore has to resort to enforcements than educating people to follow the ‘right lifestyles’.

PARTIAL PROHIBITION

The industry conveyed its apprehensions to the Chief Minister in a communication from the Group of Technology Companies (GTech) signed by VK Mathews, its Chairman.

“We recognise that there is a real problem in many families from excessive consumption of alcohol, especially in certain income segments of the society,” the GTech admitted.

It proposed instead "a pragmatic approach of partial prohibition by limiting the opening hours of all public bars including the ones in 5-star hotels from 5 pm to midnight on all days".

This will help reduce the availability and consumption drastically. GTech hoped the Government would consider its recommendation and take the right decision for the industry and the State.

EDCUATIONAL ROUTE

“In a democracy, lifestyle changes are best brought about and sustained by education and encouragement and not by enforcement”, the GTech said.

No IT company worth it same would think of setting up facilities in a State which has archaic regulations. The impact will be equally severe in the tourism and hospitality sectors, it added.

“Corporate conferences, a major source of revenue for the hospitality and tourism sector, will also be very badly impacted if we follow the route of prohibition.”

The GTech sought to remind the Chief Minister that there was no case in history of prohibition having achieved the desired results.

"On the contrary, it promotes corruption, illegitimate brewing business leading to associated perils of death and total disability, and worryingly so among the less privileged in the society."

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