The recent initiative of Himachal Pradesh government to impose ban on thermocol plates and other items, has brought cheers on the faces of rural artisans of the state who used to make ‘pattals’ (traditional leaf plates).

A source of additional income for many in yesteryears, the leaf-plate making exercise was usual practice among rural artisans which were later supplied for dhams (feasts) during social functions and gathering.

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“The step would bring turnaround change in the lives of rural artisans as they would be able to earn additional income,” Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Virender Kanwar told The Statesman.

Kanwar said he would request National Rural Livelihood Mission providing compression machines to community centres in panchayats so that the artisans could make proper designed plates.

The ban has now lifted the spirits of traditional rural artisans with Sirmaur district of the state taking lead in providing alternate for the thermocol plates in the dhams.

The district administration has recently held a meeting with held a meeting with self help groups to motivate them for engaging in the plate making exercise as the officials are viewing it as an employment opportunity for rural population.

“We want to make the traditional avocation commercial so that Sirmaur district is able to supply pattals to all areas of the state,” Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner, Lalit Jain said.

Jain said few years back, food used to be served on leaf plates (pattals) during community feasts but in recent past, they were replaced by thermocol plates.

It has led to the rural artisans stopping the practice and switching to other alternate livelihood sources.

“These plates were an important part of all marriages and other social functions in the state,” he said.

Recently, the district administration had met the self groups of Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Shillai, Renuka and Pachhad areas of Sirmaur and they were asked to engaged in the work again.

“In the next Jan Manch, a program of the state government to resolve grievances of general public, to be held on 1 July, we would make use of pattals for community feast after the program,” he said.

He added the pattals are also being introduced for langar at Mata Bala Sundri Temple in Trilokpur.

“Compression machines for making correct size and design plates are being procured and would be provided in community centres to such artisans free of cost,” Jain added.

The pattal or leaf plates are made of leaves of Sal, Maljham and Taur (bauhinia vahli leaves) trees and the leaves are bound together with twigs.

The leaf plates are not only environment friendly but are also hygienic as the thermocol plates have several side effects on health.

These pattals are also part of traditional Himachali dham for which the government had applied for patent for its medicinal values and promote traditional food practices.