comes, ironically, from Gandhi's Dandi March (also called Salt March) 75 years ago, which protested the salt laws of the British rule in India. Gandhi, who also said that you have the duty to disobey unjust laws, was the chief proponent of an alcohol-free India. One of our objectives is to make a case that the context under which Gandhi instituted prohibition is not valid today. Today, alcohol prohibition in Gujarat is an outdated, corruption and crime breeding, short sighted law which must be systematically removed. Keeping up with Bapu's spirit, the Maltmarch community plans to march to the Sachivalay and have a drink in defiance of the prohibition law (date undecided). 
Donors will get a summary of where & how their funds were used. Don't worry, we don't use donation money to buy booze.MaltMarch: Executive Summary
Prohibition background
When India gained independence from the British in 1947, all states in India were constitutionally required to have prohibition of Alcohol but none, other than Gujarat, sustained it. Prohibition has been tried in many countries around the world in the 20th century, but later removed because it failed to produce the desired results wherever it was implemented. Gujarat is no exception to that rule €“ in spite of alcohol prohibition; Gujarat has one of the highest consumption of alcohol in India and has created an underworld economy that tarnishes the potential of a socially vibrant and economically strong Gujarat. Today, Gujarat remains the only state in India to have alcohol prohibition and it has been estimated that the Govt. of Gujarat could generate Rs. 20,000 million in additional state revenues if alcohol were to be made legal in Gujarat.
Mission
MaltMarch shall strive to accelerate the pace of removing alcohol prohibition in Gujarat by:
1. Providing rationale, hard data and facts against prohibition
2. Jointly involving various institutions, social activists, and organizations to work together towards removal of alcohol prohibition
3. Creating transparency and suggesting a framework for gradual removal of prohibition to cope with the social and regulatory change.
Organizational setup
We are in the process of registering MaltMarch as a volunteer-driven organization. Our organization has a board of directors and a charter, the details of which will be available by Feb. 07.
Funds
For revenues, MaltMarch volunteers shall rely on proceeds through:
1. Donations: which will be accepted by cheque, cash or by credit card/bank (through PayPal on its Website).
2. eCommerce and Merchandizing: MaltMarch shall outsource certain eCommerce merchandizing operations to other organization on a revenue sharing basis by selling items such as T-Shirts, Mugs, Coasters, etc. on its web sites, affiliate websites and retail stores.
Hi there,
Apart from the fiscal benefits, which will be large, what brings me here is the attitude of one set of people telling the rest "I know what's good for you", which is wrong.
I have lived most of my life in Maharashtra. Apart from the silly dry days, of which Maharashtra has the highest number, largely things are freely available. There are bars to suit every pocket too, unlike the south, where people stand at the wine shops and drink as the bars are mostly out of reach of the common man. But at both these places, it is legal.
Now take Gujarat, where prohibition is being enforced, but liquor sales are the highest in the country. This shows that prohibition cannot curtail drinking. Actually the reverse happens and more people are tempted to drink as some kind of rebellious or thrill-seeking behaviour.
The only way out is to legalize it and keep tabs on it.
Good show! Keep it up!
When I first read the news paper(GulfNews) today morning I was really amazed and happy to see this fantastic activity being initiated. During my college days... we used to think of doing something like this but unfortunately couldn't.
You know what the Ban is not for Gandhiji but for the politicians themselves as they would not get their cut if it becomes legal and instead of they prospering the state would start to hahahahahah..... Also I tell you that lot of Police guys are also involved in supplying the same as I have bought at times from them while I was in Gujarat hahahaha So the oppose from government is just crap...
So Go ahead all the best wishes to you.
CHEERS EVERYBODY
Happy to know about maltmarch. I wish them all sucess.
The prohibition is purely on political lines. Alchohol is easly available in all part of Gujrat illegally at higher rates.
I was one of the lucky ones who made some fast bucks because of this stupid law 15 years back.
Let everybody enjoy the life not only the wealthy.
IMPORTANT TWO QUESTIONS R
a _ hOW TO DEFINE GEOGROPHICAL AREA WHICH SHOULD B REFERRED TO AS
birth place OF GANDHIJI
iS IT HOME IN WHICH HE WAS BORN , OR " MOHALLA " IN WHICH HE WAS BORN , OR THE CITY IN WHCH HE WAS BORN , STATE OR ENTIRE NATION
IN WHICH OF THESE PLACES SHOULD PROHIBTION B ENFORCED
B _AND IF HE IS CALLED FATHER OF NATION THEN ENTIRE INDIA SHOULD B UNDER PROHIBION
FACT IS PROHIBITION COMES HANDY FOR OPPOSITION TO BEAT PARTY AT POWER , ANY GOVT WHICH TRIES TO SOFTEN PROHIBITION POLICY WL B UNDER ATTCK FROM OPPOSITION THAT GANDHIJI , S IDEAS R SACRIFICED
IT IS HIGH TIME SOMEONE TAKES BOLD STEP AND SCRAPES PROHIBITION POLICY _ NOT SOFTEN - BUT SCRAPE TOTALLY TO ENSURE REVENUE GOES TO GOVT COFFERS AND NOT TO " VESTED " INTRESTS
IT WILL ALSO IMPART DIGNITY TO VISITORS FROM ABROAD WHO HAVE TO STAND HELPLESSLY FOR SOME OFFICIALS TO GRANT PERMIT AFTER MAKING TO WAIT FROM 2 TO 3 HOURS , IF ONNE IS LUCKY OR ELSE TO BE TOLD TO COME NEXT DAY AS " SAHEB " IS NOT AVAILABLE TO SIGN
I COME TO INDIA EVERY YEAR AND LIMIT MY STAY IN GUJARAT FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS AND SPEND MY VECATION IN KERALA / TAMILNADU ETC
WHERE I DONT HAVE TO LOOSE HALF TO ONE DAY STANDING IN " LICENSING " OFFICE ,
I WISH MALT MARCH ALL THE SUCCESS AND HOPE IT GIVES COURAGE TO
PEOPLE IN POWER ANS SANITY TO THOSE TRYING TO EXPLOIT POLICY IN THE NAME OF GANDHIJI
SHAHAB
hey ppl,
i think dat its sheer stupidity 2 prohibit alcohol in gujarat...n jus lifting d ban frm SEPs is not enuf....get real!!!get a life!!!!
we r a part of a democratic republic....every1 has d right to choose....i mean if u trust d person to participate n vote to choose sm1 as d administrator of our country,y not jus let dem choose whether dey wanna drink or no??!!!
c'mon ppl.....join up...and ask dese bozos to back off n mind thier own business!!!
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