Picture : Making of Pattals of Sal leaves and drying
Picture : Tribal from Tudu community in Jadabganj earns his livelihood from Sal leaf.
Livelihood of forest dwellers and tribals is mainly dependent on Minor forest produce like Sal Leaves. These tribals collects leaves from Forest and makes Pattals/ stitched leaf plates for sale in the market. It takes one day for two labourers to make 2000 plates using sal leaves, stiched by sticks. Thereafter, the leaf plates are required to be stitched using machines before these are sold in town markets.
This tribal person stated to me that he and his wife make 2000 plates in a day and gets Rs 300 wages. Family can get Rs 302 under MGNREGA provided local GPs generates enough works.
The machine used to stitch sal leaves costs only approximately Rs 7500 which adds value to the produce. This person claims that he can also use the machine and could have got more than Rs 500 wages for the work but he can't afford to buy one.
Sal making machines were supplied to different SHGs and are in use. There is need to supply more. My interaction with these tribal during recent visit prompts me to think about a larger plan for development of this sector, value addition by skill development and market linkage in a systematic manner.
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