Meghalaya Assembly ‘gets high’ on rice
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Govt has no intention to legalise native alcoholic drinks made out of fermented rice: Minister
Rice rode rum for a spirited debate within the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly on Tuesday.
Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla knowledgeable the House that the federal government had no plans to legalise native alcoholic drinks from fermented rice.
Like most ethnic communities of the Northeast, the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia individuals in Meghalaya brew the ‘bitchi’ and ‘kaid um’ from fermented rice.
A query on rice-based brews from Independent MLA Syntar Klas Sunn triggered the dialogue.
Mr. Shylla cited two the explanation why the State can not make native alcoholic brews authorized. “As a non-milling State, Meghalaya does not have broken rice to be used for brewing. Besides, people primarily use rice as a staple food,” he stated.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma intervened when Mr. Sunn drew a comparability within the consumption sample of rice and rum.
“I don’t think it is fair to compare the consumption of rice and rum. Meghalaya consumes 4 lakh metric tonnes [annually] but produces about 3 lakh metric tonnes of rice. There is a clear shortage in the supply of rice, so its consumption as a staple food is a priority,” he stated.
Mr. Sunn insisted on legalising native brews from fermented rice which, he stated, may increase the native financial system and generate employment when jobs had been exhausting to return by.
But Mr. Sangma stated diverting rice meant for consumption to the breweries would create extra issues.
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