Reviving Tradition, Building Futures: Leaf Plate & Bowl Training Initiative (2022)
In 2022, GRAM Association, in partnership with IIM Ranchi and under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan framework, introduced a hands-on training program designed to revive a traditional craft , making plates and bowls from sal leaves. The 12-day initiative focused on empowering tribal women through skill development, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.
Rooted in local knowledge and aligned with eco-friendly practices, this initiative provided a meaningful alternative to plastic disposables while creating new livelihood opportunities.
What the Training Covered
A total of 34 women - 18 from Rasabeda and 16 from Hapatbeda, participated in the program. The training covered:
- Techniques for collecting and preparing sal leaves
- Stitching and pressing methods to craft sturdy, natural plates and bowls
- Health and hygiene practices, with a focus on COVID-19 awareness
- Basics of entrepreneurship and how to connect with local markets
- Steps to set up and manage small-scale production units
To support continued learning, a production-cum-training unit was set up at the field center. Eighteen women were inducted as regular trainees. They now oversee the entire process, from collecting leaves to selling finished products, building a steady income stream while supporting sustainable, eco-conscious living.
What Changed
- Techniques for collecting and preparing sal leaves
- Stitching and pressing methods to craft sturdy, natural plates and bowls
- Health and hygiene practices, with a focus on COVID-19 awareness
- Basics of entrepreneurship and how to connect with local markets
- Steps to set up and manage small-scale production units
Once the training was complete, the project was formally handed over to the community, enabling them to run it independently and expand at their own pace.