Going gets tough for leaf platemakers in Mandi
Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, May 30
The Covid-19 outbreak has affected traditional leaf platemakers in Mandi district. Over 100 families are dependent for their livelihood on leaf plates, which are used to serve food during many functions.
The plates are made of “taur” plant leaves available in forest areas of the district.
We used to collect ‘taur’ leaves from forest areas. These are nature-friendly and can be disposed of easily. Each plate costs Rs 2 and most leaf plate makers were earning Rs 500 to Rs 700 daily before the Covid-19 outbreak. Now, it has become difficult to sustain our livelihood.
— A villager
Since March 25, their business has come to a halt. They have now started finding other ways to earn their livelihood. Mandi district is famous for “Mandyli Dham” during marriage and religious occasions. Leaf plates are preferred for serving food on such occasions, benefiting plate makers.
Covid-19 has spelled doom to their business. Marriage parties, religious gatherings or other celebrations have been stopped, reducing the demand of leaf plates to zero.
Baldev, a native of Grahan panchayat, and Suresh Kumar of Pandoh told The Tribune, “We used to collect leaves from the forest areas. It is nature-friendly as these can be disposed of easily. Each plate costs Rs 2 and most leaf platemakers were earning Rs 500 to Rs 700 daily before the Covid-19 outbreak. But Covid outbreak has ruined all the business.
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