Talgaon: In the absence of any help from the government, an elderly couple has been making both ends meet by plucking sal leaves and stitching plates.
Items made of the minor forest produce are the only source of income for the hapless tribal couple Sourang Guru and his wife Pramila Guru, both in their 70s of Gandapaju village under Harbhanga block in Boudh district.
Except for a tiny thatched hut in a 4 decimal land, the couple have failed to get attract the attention of the administration to their plight. Scores of schemes launched the government elude the couple, thanks to the indifferent attitude of the officials concerned.
The couple struggle to sustain from the meagre amount they get by selling the ‘khali’ plates and cups made of sal leaves at a low price.
The couple’s day begins with a little water-rice after which they go to collect sal leaves, risking their lives in the forest nearby the village. Later, they return and spend all their day making plates and cups as they cannot do any other work.
With no children of their own, they have one to take care of them. Eight sal leaves are required to make one plate and 80 such plates make a bundle which sells at Rs 10 to Rs 12 per bundle that hardly brings Rs 24 a day which is not enough for them.
At this age, they do not get old-age pension and are eluded of ration. Moreover, the little money they get is spent on their medicines.
“Braving wild animals, we pluck sal leaves to eke out our living. No one notices our problems and has offered any help,” Sourang said adding apart from sal leaves, they have no alternative source of income.
Locals sympathised with the couple and demanded them to be rehabilitated and provided with proper care.
PNN