The coffee shop which she set up last year with the help of NGO Women Initiative for Self-Employment (WISE) has turned into a profitable venture with her earning Rs 15,000 per month.

Poonam Devi, 51, hogged the limelight when she along with other women of her Gadel Patti village in Tehri district declared a war against liquor mafia.

She was not only successful in ousting the mafia from her village but also began an awareness campaign against the menace of liquor. And now, many a males of the village have given up their drinking habit.

In recognition of their brave effort, the state government will honour Joshi and Devi along with 12 other women with 'Mahila Samakhya', a centrally-aided project for women empowerment in Uttarakhand.

“We are now zeroing on all those women who have at some point become role models in different spheres,” project director Geeta Gairola said.

The award will be given on Women International Day here by state Women Welfare Minister Beena Mehrana.