New Delhi/Chandigarh, July 11 (IANS) A woman village head from Haryana was honoured in the capital by President Pratibha Patil Saturday for her successful anti-alcohol campaign, an official statement said.
Roshni Devi of Kothal Khurd village near Narnaul town in Haryana, some 300 km from Chandigarh, had gone to New Delhi, along with a group of 18 other women of the village, on the special invitation of the president.

“Their campaign had shown that the most difficult of challenges can be overcome with courage, dedication and confidence. A number of social evils and superstitious practices like dowry, child marriage, female foeticide and alcoholism have to be completely eradicated from the society,” the statement said.

The president had invited Roshni Devi after being impressed by the drive initiated by her against drinking at public places and against the illegal sale of liquor in the village.

“Due to her initiative, the incidents of public drinking and loitering after drinking in the village have decreased to a great extent. She changed the mindset of villagers to such an extent that even license holders of liquor sub-vends had to close down due to public resistance,” said a Haryana government spokesperson in Chandigarh Saturday.