Kaptipada: Sal leaf collection used to be a cottage industry for scores of poor tribals in Kaptipada area of Mayurbhanj district, but imposition of royalty on leaves and restriction on the collection period have left an adverse impact on the trade, a report said.
Tribals usually collect many minor forest produces like sal leaves, mahua flowers, tola, harida, bhahada, gooseberry, honey and other herbs from nearby forests and sell them in markets.
There was a time when collection of sal leaves was a major source of livelihood for thousands of tribals. The leaves are used to make leaf plates.
Sal trees are found aplenty in hilly areas like Nato, Sarat, Ranipokhari, Dewanbahali, Sardiha, Labanyadeipur, Ramchandrapur, Padmapokhari, Kalamgadia, Makadapada, Chakradharpur, Debala, Kulialam, JS Jamudiha, Majhigadia and Salachua.
At daybreak, tribal people, all from elderly to children, troop to forests and collect dry leaves for fuel and raw leaves for plates. They stitch the leaves to make plates, which are sold for Rs 80 per 1,000.
Members of a family busy themselves in stitching leaves. A person can make 3,000 plates a day ensuring an earning of Rs 200 to 250 a day.
Moreover, sal leaves are intrinsically linked with the tradition and culture of tribals. The leaves are essential for Sareli Puja and wedding occasions.
“Owing to multiple utility of sal leaves, the sal tree is worshipped by our ancestors. As soon as green shoots appear on trees, we observe Bahabanga festival for God Marangbur in fervour and gaiety,” noted old timers Baghray Murmu and Samray Singh.
“Sal trees’ wood and resin are essential for tooth brush, but the forest department has imposed various restrictions on its collection, leaving us in the lurch. Unlike previous years, we cannot collect leaves and other minor produce throughout the year,” rued Samay Marandi, Budhuram Singh and Karan Kisku.
Another problem is that paper and thermocol plates and cups are now in high demand, as result of which the demand for sal leaf plates has come down.
“Paper and thermocol plates have badly hit our livelihood,” said Raibari Singh.
Instead of giving a push to the trade, the government dealt a blow to it by imposing Rs 72 as royalty per quintal of sal leaves. As a result, traders are reluctant to procure sal leaves from tribals, a report said.
Besides, the government has granted permission for sal leaf collection for only six months from January to March and then from July to September.
Due to the six-month restriction on collection of leaves, people and traders linked with the activity keep away from this business.
Leaf collectors alleged the governments of neighbouring states have no such restrictions.
They demanded exemption of royalty collection. If nothing is done in this regard, thousands of poor people dependent on this traditional activity will face problems, they added. PNN