# How Reena Devi Turned Her Life Around After Bihar Liquor Ban With Jivika to Build a Thriving Business > Facing severe financial hardship following the liquor ban in Bihar, Chhapra resident Reena Devi rebuilt her life through the Jivika initiative. She successfully established a food stall and a general store, ensuring a respectful livelihood for her family. **Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-10-16 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/bihar-me-sharabbandi-ke-baad-badli-reena-devi-ki-kismat-jivika-se-judkar-khada-kiya-hotel-aur-general-store-ka-karobar-48205 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Jivika Bihar, Chhapra News, Bihar Liquor Ban, Women Entrepreneurs, Success Story The implementation of the liquor prohibition in Bihar had a massive impact on Chhapra, leaving numerous households struggling for survival. The illicit trade of alcohol had served as the sole source of daily meals for several families, and its abrupt halt plunged those homes into starvation. Consequently, men and women were forced to step outside in search of manual labor. However, due to the scarcity of large factories and manufacturing units within the state, consistent employment was rarely available. Under these grim conditions, securing daily rations became a relentless struggle, forcing families to endure days and nights on an empty stomach. ## A Complete Shift in Reena Devi's Life Path Reena Devi, a resident of Garkha block in Garkha, belonged to a family that was previously engaged in selling alcohol. When the trade came to an abrupt end, hunger struck her household as well. Left with no other option, she stepped out to work as a laborer in fields and private homes, but the lack of guaranteed daily work made sustaining the household exceedingly difficult. During that critical period, Reena Devi was associated with Jivika, which ultimately provided her with a lifeline. ## Starting a Street Food Stall With a Ten Thousand Rupee Loan Sharing her journey, Reena Devi explained that her primary livelihood had been selling liquor and toddy. Once prohibition closed those doors, she turned to daily wage labor, but irregular employment meant rations could only be purchased on days she found work. On jobless days, she and her children had to sleep hungry. Observing the severity of her plight, Jivika officials stepped in and granted her an initial loan of ₹10,000. Utilizing these funds, she set up a small cart-based food stall where she began preparing and selling items like chhola, samosas, and pakoras, finally securing a reliable way to buy household rations. ## Expanding From a Food Stall to a General Store By saving a portion of the earnings from her food business and securing an additional loan through Jivika, Reena Devi managed to open a general store as well. Today, her household is running smoothly and comfortably. Looking ahead, she hopes to receive further assistance from the government to expand her enterprise, increase her earnings, and secure a better future for her family. Reflecting on her past, she noted that the liquor business was fraught with constant anxiety, police raids, and unending court visits, while societal stigma meant families hesitated to marry their children into such households. In contrast, she proudly maintains that her current hotel and general store businesses are infinitely better, allowing her to live with dignity and peace. ## What this means for you This story directly impacts rural women and families looking to break away from unstable or illicit livelihoods through government-backed self-help initiatives. - **Financial Independence:** Small loans provided through local support networks can successfully catalyze micro-enterprises like food stalls and general stores. - **In Bihar:** Rural households affected by sudden economic disruptions can leverage community initiatives to transition into legal and dignified professions. ## Why this happened The sudden prohibition of alcohol wiped out the primary income source for numerous families engaged in the illegal trade, creating an acute survival crisis. The lack of industrial factories in the region compounded the problem by making steady daily wage labor unavailable. - **Prohibition Impact:** The abrupt shutdown of the alcohol trade left dependent households with zero income overnight. - **Employment Scarcity:** The absence of local factories meant displaced workers could not find reliable daily wage jobs. - **Micro-Finance Support:** Community-based livelihood programs stepped in during the crisis to provide essential financial backing for alternative micro-enterprises. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Where is Reena Devi from? Reena Devi is a resident of Garkha block in Chhapra, Bihar. ### 2. What was Reena Devi's previous business? Before the liquor prohibition, her family was engaged in selling alcohol and toddy. ### 3. How much initial loan did Reena Devi receive from Jivika? Jivika officials initially provided her with a loan of ₹10,000. ### 4. What business did she start with the initial loan? She started a cart-based food stall selling items like chhola, samosas, and pakoras. ### 5. What business did she establish after the food stall? Using savings from her food stall and a subsequent loan through Jivika, she opened a general store. ## Inspiration & Lessons Reena Devi's journey highlights how resilience, timely micro-finance, and legal entrepreneurship can overcome severe economic hardship. - **Dignified Labor:** Abandoning risky illicit trades in favor of honest enterprise brings both financial stability and social respect. - **Wise Investment of Capital:** Small initial loans from self-help groups can be successfully grown into sustainable, multi-tier businesses. - **Unwavering Persistence:** Facing extreme poverty with steady determination allows individuals to completely rewrite their family's future. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._