AP to Notify Liquor Shop Allocations for Scheduled Castes Next Week

The Andhra Pradesh government is set to release a notification within a week regarding the allocation of liquor shop licenses to Scheduled Castes (SCs). This decision follows the state’s policy shift last October, allowing private liquor shops to operate after years of government-run liquor outlets under the previous administration.

Under the new system, 10 per cent of the total liquor shops will be reserved for SCs. The move is part of a broader effort to ensure equitable participation in the state’s liquor trade. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the implementation of the policy in a cabinet meeting held on Friday.

The privatization of liquor shops began in October 2024, following the end of a five-year period during which the government directly managed the outlets under the YSR Congress Party’s rule. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), upon assuming office, transitioned the management of liquor shops to private entities through an auction process.

Of the 3,396 licensed shops under the new policy, 340 shops are yet to be allocated. These remaining shops will be distributed based on caste and sub-caste considerations, particularly focusing on the Geetha caste and related sub-castes. The Geetha caste is a community traditionally associated with professions related to toddy tapping, liquor production, and trade,

The government plans to reserve 10 per cent of the shops specifically for Geetha castes, with district-wise allocations determined by caste population data from the 2016 Smart Pulse Survey. The survey categorized Geetha castes into three groups: Yatha (Category A), Gouda and related sub-castes (Category B), and Sondi (Category C).

Shops will be distributed proportionally based on population data, with the highest number of allocations (23 shops) in Tirupati district. No allocations are planned for the Alluri Seetharamaraju district.

Applicants from the Geetha caste must provide caste certification to qualify for the reserved shops. The application fee is set at Rs 2 lakh, with a license fee of Rs 25 lakh. Some liquor traders have raised concerns over the high license fees, questioning their accessibility to marginalized groups.

There are allegations that local political representatives may exert undue influence over the allocation and operation of these shops. Reports suggest that some shops allocated to marginalized groups could be taken over by other parties through coercion or political pressure.

The Excise Department has outlined the distribution of shops across districts:

- Anantapur: 14

- Sri Satya Sai: 9

- Tirupati: 23

- Chittoor: 10

- East Godavari: 13

- Kakinada: 16

- Guntur: 13

- Kadapa: 14

- Krishna: 12

- Visakhapatnam: 14

- West Godavari: 18

Other districts have received allocations proportional to their Geetha caste populations.

The upcoming notification will provide detailed guidelines for the application process. The government is expected to ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation process.