Bhubaneswar: Imposition of ban on single-use plastic in all urban areas of state is likely to raise the demand for plates and cutlery made up of kendu and sal leaves, said a few experts.
According to them, the ban on plastic and polythene will be a boon for the kendu and sal leaf industry in Odisha.
The experts claimed that people were using large quantities of thermocol and plastic cutlery in parties during wedding and other ceremonies. “With the imposition of ban on single-use plastic, people will opt for leaf-made utensils. Ban on plastic and polythene is likely to give the much needed fillip to the production of leaf-made products,” said an expert.
As per government data, around five lakh people in Odisha are engaged in the production of kendu and sal leaf plates and other products. At least 2.5 lakh people in state usually pluck kendu and sal leaves to earn their livelihood. “The kendu and sal leaf industry has the potential to generate annual transactions worth Rs 1,500 crore in state,” said the expert.
According to the experts, many people in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts are engaged in kendu leaf industry. The labourers produce kendu leaf plates manually while a few of them use stitching machines to produce the cutlery.
Chittaranjan Pani, an expert working in the field of minor forest produce, claimed that the ban on single-use plastic has virtually given a space to the kendu and sal leaf industry to grow in the state. “The stakeholders should utilise this opportunity with proper planning,” Pani added.
According to Pani, the kendu and sal leaf industry has been exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Union government. Besides, the state government is not collecting royalty from kendu and sal leaves to promote the industry.
Apart from that, the Centre has inducted a scheme to include women self-help groups (SHGs) in tribal-dominated districts in the processing of forest produce. “The state government should create awareness among people to use kendu and sal leaf plates,” Pani said.
Keonjhar Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) official Narayan Murmu said the state government is trying to develop the living standard of people engaged in kendu and sal leaf industry. “The government will facilitate the introduction of advanced technology to boost production in the kendu and sal leaf industry,” he added.