Bhubaneswar, Dec 6: Odisha has witnessed a major transformation in its fight against illicit liquor and child malnutrition. Once considered a hub for spurious and adulterated liquor, the state has taken strong measures to dismantle the mafia networks that thrived for years.

According to Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan’s written reply in the Assembly, the government has intensified its crackdown, registering 26,601 cases in the past 11 months and sending 26,916 individuals to jail.

Authorities have seized 12,129 litres of spurious and fake liquor, 30.62 lakh litres of country liquor, 2.64 crore litres of mahuli brew, and 25.93 lakh kilograms of jaggery used for brewing illicit alcohol. In connection with the Chikiti hooch tragedy, two excise officers have been suspended, reflecting the government’s zero-tolerance approach.

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Odisha, on the other hand, is also addressing the long-standing issue of child malnutrition. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, in her Assembly reply, highlighted a steady decline in malnutrition cases among children aged six months to five years.

According to her data, 23004 children were identified as malnourished in 2022-23, with Keonjhar district recording the highest number at 2,464. The following year, 2023-24, the figure dropped to 13,736, with Mayurbhanj leading at 1,662 cases. In 2024-25, malnutrition cases further reduced to 10,133, again with Mayurbhanj topping at 1,234. The latest figures for 2025-26 show 9,877 malnourished children, with Mayurbhanj reporting 1,075 cases.

These statistics reflect Odisha’s dual battle — on one hand, dismantling the black empire of spurious liquor, and on the other, reducing the social stigma of child malnutrition. The government’s aggressive enforcement and welfare measures are gradually reshaping the state’s image.