Dry Bihar to turn Liquor bottles into glass bangles

Source– The post is based on the article “Dry Bihar to turn Liquor bottles into glass bangles” published in The Hindu on 10th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS-2- Social empowerment, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of population and performance of these schemes.

Context- The article explains Bihar government plan to set up factories to make glass and bangles out of seized liquor and challenges associated with it.

What are some facts related to the Bihar government plan?

It is a social and economic empowerment program through its rural livelihood program called JEEVIKA. It is funded by the World Bank.

Earlier bottles seized were crushed and treated as garbage. However, now the plan is to give these bottles to JEEVIKA workers. JEEVIKA women workers will be training in bangles making in other states.

₹1 crore has been allocated to set up a glass-making factory in Patna and send JEEVIKA women for training in bangle-making to other states.

What are the challenges related to Bihar government’s new excise policy?

More than thirty thousand people and also government officials were arrested during raids against those involved in illegal liquor trade activities. Due to the large number of persons involved, jails were overcrowded and cases were clogged in courts.

Due to lack of storage, government officials had to crush large quantities of seized liquor.

What is the economic viability of the idea?

First, In making glass bangles, other materials like limestone and soda are used. Now, who will provide these materials for factories to run?

Second, these factories will have to face competition from factories in Faizabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad which have economies of scale.

Third, would bottles be supplied in sufficient amount to sustain the bangle making factory in the long run?