Bihar, an Indian state situated in the eastern part of the country, is setting its sights on crafting glass bangles from seized liquor bottles through a unique initiative – the Rural Livelihoods Promotion Programme, otherwise known as JEEViKA. As part of this programme, professionally trained JEEViKA workers will receive these bottles to be repurposed into colourful bangles. This endeavour will take shape through a designated factory set-up, financially backed by the World Bank. Moreover, JEEViKA falls under the jurisdiction of Bihar’s rural development department, primarily focusing on enhancing social and economic empowerment in the region’s rural areas.
Economic Feasibility of The Endeavour
Concerns have been raised about the economic sustainability of the novel idea of transforming seized liquor bottles into glass bangles. The creativity of the concept is uncontested; however, the elements required for bangle production extend beyond just glass to include limestone and soda. This might result in a situation where the supply of seized liquor bottles may not meet the demand for glass bangle manufacturing. Existing factories in cities like Faizabad, Mumbai, and Hyderabad currently account for approximately 80% of the market’s glass bangle production, further questioning the financial feasibility of the plan.
Unmasking Bihar’s Liquor Prohibition and Its Associated Issues
On April 5, 2016, the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act was implemented, enforcing a complete alcohol ban in the state. Fast forward to March 2022, and the Bihar assembly has cleared a Bill proposing amendments to the prohibition Act. This bill, the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2022, recommends levying a fine on individuals found consuming alcohol instead of jailing them. Yet, the amendment is pending implementation after the Patna High Court expressed concerns about vesting judicial power in officials appointed as special executive magistrates at the district and subdivision levels.
The existing system of detaining offenders continues to be in place. As per data from the excise department, just within August 2022, around 30,000 individuals were arrested for violating the Bihar liquor laws. This prohibition policy hasn’t been without its share of controversies. The state’s judicial processes grapple with the burden of dealing with liquor law violations, which have resulted in overcrowded prisons. Approximately 150,000 people, largely belonging to socio-economically disadvantaged classes, are currently imprisoned in Bihar jails for contravening these regulations. These individuals often do not possess the means to bribe their way out of incarceration.