Koraput, July 9: What started as the determination of a single individual has transformed into a community-led movement in the remote tribal belt of Odisha's Koraput district. Five villages in Nandapur block have been declared completely alcohol-free after nearly 400 families gave up liquor, while five more villages are set to achieve the same milestone.

The campaign has been spearheaded by 72-year-old social reformer and literary activist Bichitrananda Panda, whose decades-long efforts have helped bring a remarkable social transformation among tribal communities once severely affected by alcoholism.

Panda, a native of Jajpur district, moved to Koraput in 1984 in search of livelihood and later settled in Padua under Nandapur block. Witnessing the devastating impact of alcohol on tribal families, he launched a personal anti-liquor campaign in 1990. He travelled extensively across villages, meeting community leaders and residents to spread awareness about the harmful effects of alcoholism and encourage families to educate their children.

Despite years of sustained efforts, the campaign initially yielded limited results. In 2016, Panda formed the Narayan Panda Smruti Sahitya Sansad and created a volunteer network called Baishakhi Paribar, comprising around 80 members dedicated to social reform. The organisation intensified awareness drives through regular village meetings, community gatherings and counselling sessions, gradually convincing families to give up alcohol.

The movement achieved its first major breakthrough on October 10, 2021, when Dabasput village under Kulabir Panchayat was declared the first alcohol-free village. Inspired by the success, several other villages followed. Madi Bhimdol under Balda Panchayat was declared alcohol-free on March 13, 2022, followed by Banamaliput in Lamataput block on October 2, 2022, Godiput under Balda Panchayat on October 2, 2023, and Kitba under Badel Panchayat on December 1, 2025.

The declarations were made in the presence of local administrative officials, including the Block Development Officer (BDO), Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and Tahsildar. Signboards identifying the villages as alcohol-free have also been installed.

According to Panda, nearly 400 families across these five villages have quit alcohol, and volunteers continue to monitor them to ensure they remain addiction-free.

The campaign is now underway in Sindhiput, Burgiput, Anlaghati, Burjiput, Debatiguda and Gangaguda villages, which are expected to be declared alcohol-free in the coming months.

Nandapur BDO Durga Prasad Dora said the initiative has been highly successful and credited both Baishakhi Paribar and the women of the villages for playing a key role in sustaining the campaign. He said women prevented alcohol from entering their homes and encouraged their husbands and sons to stay away from liquor. The administration also imposed strict restrictions on the entry of alcohol into the declared alcohol-free villages.

Officials said the campaign has led to significant social and economic improvements. Families once affected by alcoholism are now leading stable lives, work productivity has increased, and many villagers have embraced spiritual practices. Bhagabat Tungis, community centres, anganwadi centres and schools have also been established in these villages, with residents gathering every evening for religious discourses and community activities.

Several Bhubaneswar-based NGOs have also supported the initiative by helping chronic alcohol addicts undergo treatment at de-addiction centres.

Panda funds much of the campaign from his personal earnings through a small snack shop in Padua. Apart from the anti-liquor movement, he has also been working to promote Odia language, literature, education and culture in the remote region. He spends nearly ₹7 lakh annually on various social and cultural initiatives and has been honoured by over a hundred organisations across Odisha for his contributions.

With administrative support and growing community participation, the campaign aims to make every village in Nandapur block alcohol-free and transform the region into a model for community-led social reform.