PATNA: In an effort to reduce waste and provide a livelihood, the Bihar government is encouraging women to make glass bangles from recovered liquor bottles. The Prohibition Department of the State Government has sanctioned an amount of one crore rupees for setting up a bangle manufacturing unit for women associated with the rural livelihood function 'Jeevika.'

Prohibition and Excise Minister Sunil Kumar said that every year a large quantity of liquor is seized in the state and officers often face problems in disposing of the recovered bottles. He said, ''The confiscated liquor bottles are crushed using earthmovers machine resulting in huge waste. As a part of this initiative, the department is now employing livelihood labourers as raw materials for manufacturing glass bangles. Will provide powder of broken bottles. A group of livelihood workers are being trained by the Department of Rural Development to make glass bangles." 

He said, "A comprehensive feasibility report is being prepared for further expansion. Initially, the number of manufacturing units will be limited, but it will be increased in the coming months. It will work like a cottage industry." According to a senior official of the department, "the number of manufacturing units to be set up initially, a plan is being prepared." Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar said that the objective of the 'Jeevika' scheme is poverty alleviation with the help of the World Bank. ''The objective of the scheme is to generate more employment for the poor, especially women, in rural areas. Jeevika workers are already engaged in manufacturing LED tube lights and bulbs and they will be financially self-sufficient by this,'' he said. Kumar said that his department is working closely with the department to prohibit bangle manufacturing initiatives. Officers of both the departments are jointly preparing a comprehensive plan for this initiative. The project is expected to start from Patna. Liquor was banned in Bihar in April 2016. Along with this, its (liquor) storage, consumption, sale and manufacture was made a punishable offence. According to the police, between January and May this year, the state seized more than 13.87 lakh litres of liquor.

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