Panchayat officer launches campaign to make leaf plates in Siddipet

Siddipet: To fulfil the dual goal of protecting the environment and economically empowering rural women, District Panchayat Officer (DPO) Devaki Devi is conducting awareness programmes on the need to make “Istarlu” (leaf plates) from Moduga leaves for MGNREGA women across the district. The Moduga (Butea monosperma) tree is seen in abundance in the rural areas of the district. Concerned about the excessive use of plastic plates, glasses and other plastic items during celebrations even in the rural areas of Siddipet, Devaki Devi decided to launch a movement by reaching out to rural women on the need to make plates from Moduga leaves. During April, May and June, when MGNREGA workers were busy at work sites, Devaki Devi and panchayat secretaries across the district approached over 70,000 of these workers where they demonstrated the stitching of leaf plates. 2942Women make plates from Moduga leaves in Siddipet1 359
MGNREGA women are making plates from Moduga leaves in a village in Siddipet district. Since there was a good demand for plates made from the leaves, Devaki told Telangana Today that rural women could earn extra income, which they can spend on their children’s education. She also educated the women to use leaf plates during ceremonies at their homes instead of plastic plates. She explained with examples how plastic will stay in the soil for hundreds of years, making the soil less fertile. She said the women were being paid Rs 5 for a plate. When she received an order for a few hundred plates, Devaki informed a woman from Chinna Gundaveli village about it. The woman earned Rs 1,000 in less than 24 hours by supplying them. To set an example, Devaki also served food on Moduga leaf plates during a retirement function of a woman officer at Siddipet Collectorate recently. He has called upon young women and men to set up leaf plate making units in villages so that apart from helping the environment, the women and the unit owners can also benefit.