Livelihood + Sustainability: IFS officer shares video of villagers making areca leaf products

Recently, Parveen Kaswan, an Indian Forest Service officer, shared a video on social media that showed villagers making utensils using locally available areca leaves. Unlike plastic products, the areca leaf products are biodegradable and ethically produced.

Our second such unit in forest villages. Livelihood + Sustainability. pic.twitter.com/ogCQvORucE

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 25, 2022

While sharing photos of the end products, Kaswan wrote, “These are Areca leaf plate making units. They are made by locals using self-collected material. Eco friendly and reduces plastic use. This is how they look. Products from this unit only. Livelihood + Sustainability.”

Kaswan further said that two manufacturing units set up in forest villages, where areca leaves are available in plenty, have created surplus produce that can be bought at wholesale rates.

These are Areca leaf plate making units. They are made by locals using self collected material. Eco friendly and reduces plastic use. This is how they look. Products From this unit only. Livelihood + Sustainability. pic.twitter.com/MXqSUnTAQ8

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 25, 2022

Simple raw material. Locally collected. pic.twitter.com/8V7Opn8wVD

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 25, 2022

End product. Finished, good quality plates. In all shapes and sizes. pic.twitter.com/xEmVj9thDT

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 25, 2022

Tweeting about how one can place an order for the products, the IFS officer wrote that anyone who wishes to place a wholesale order can call on 8158014014.

Not only doing good. But prospering. A recent batch of Range officers visited one such unit. Now anybody who wants to buy in wholesale (only wholesale) can contact the committee people at 81580 14014. pic.twitter.com/Er6vwQ5Npa

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) May 14, 2022

A social media user commented on Kaswan’s tweets, “Very good initiative. Environmental friendly and supporting communities. Considering the RAW material cost is nominal, it should be sustainable.”

Wonderful! I bought these for my reception. Didn’t want plastic and didn’t have enough dishes. These were the eco friendly choice I found. Everyone loved them!

— Abbey Scott △̶ (@AbbeyScott16) March 25, 2022

Sir,this is very nice .one suggestion .you contact railway ministry &see that in all Indian trains these plates are introduced.These can be used for providing lunch&dinner in all trains instead of paper/plastic boxes. For serving tea,samosa .This will give profit to manufacturers

— LEOVSN (@LEOVSN) March 25, 2022

We must all work together to ensure a more sustainable future. Plastics are a major environmental disaster that is destroying our way of life.

— Manu Murali Pillai (@manumurali369) March 25, 2022

These should be promoted more

— Ankit (@_a_n_k_i_t) March 25, 2022

जहां चाह वहां राह! उम्दा कार्य सर

— Ankit Tiwadi (@ankittiwadi) March 25, 2022

Wonderful job sir. Can these type of jobs be emulated across India at different forest zones for helping uneducated, unemployed. Will create jobs and reduce plastic use.

— Praveen vaddepally (@Praveen_Writer) March 25, 2022

Another person suggested, “Sir, this is very nice. one suggestion. you contact the railway ministry & see that in all Indian trains these plates are introduced. These can be used for providing lunch & dinner in all trains instead of paper/plastic boxes. For serving tea, samosa. This will give profit to manufacturers.”