(i) Increased consumption of a locally brewed alcohol-arrack-by men. The habit of alcoholism had taken deep roots and was ruining the physical and mental health of village people.
(ii) It effected the rural economy. Indebtedness grew with increasing scales of consumption of alcohol and men remained absent from their jobs due to effects of alcoholism.
(iii) There was increase in crime because contractors of alcohol engaged in crime for securing their monopoly over the arrack trade.
(iv)It resulted in the collapse of the family economy and the women bore the brunt of violence from the males in the family, particularly by the husband. The issue of domestic violence was discussed openly.
(v)Attention was drawn towards the nexus between crime and politics around the business of arrack because the state government collected huge revenues by way of taxes and therefore was not willing to impose on ban on sale of arrack. This issue was addressed in the agitation against arrack.
(vi) Attention was drawn towards other issues such as the custom of dowry, sexual abuse at work and public places and inequality in personal and property laws.
(a) Social movements are hampering the functioning of India’s democracy.
(b) The main strength of social movements lies in their mass base across social sections.
(c) Social movements in India emerged because there were many issues that political parties did not address.
