sal leaf cups
Sal-sufficient: Leafy tableware of Odisha’s Santhal tribe
Santhal women in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district are preserving their ancient heritage by making plates and bowls from sal leaves. However, the arrival of plastic products in remote tribal areas is fast wiping out the practice.
Jharkhand’s tribal women make natural cups and bowls but find no takers
Hundreds of women sell eco-friendly, sal-leaf cups and teeth-cleaning datoon twigs, but barely make Rs 70 a day. Still they persist with a grin that never betrays their hard life.