Twitter Lauds Tribal Community’s Sustainable Solutions That Pave The Way To A Plastic-Free India

Plastic pollution is a grave problem that concerns the entire world. That is why people globally are putting efforts to reduce the use of hazardous plastic products. From using alternatives like ‘Pasta Straws‘ to charging a fine from people using plastic, everybody is doing their bit to save the environment.

Speaking of which, tribal Indian communities have been using eco-friendly alternatives to plastic for a long time now. The tribe members use ‘Pattal’ or leaf bowls and plates to not only eat their food but also sell fruits and vegetables.

These Indian plates or trenchers are made using broad leaves. They are quite popular during traditional meals, festivals, and temples. Recently, twitter user Rishi Bagree suggested that a plastic-free India could be possible if we learn to avoid plastic like the tribal communities.

Have a look his tweet: 

प्लास्टिक मुक्त भारत बनाना है तो हम सबको आदिवासी समुदाय से सीखने की जरूरत है! और इन्हें प्रोत्साहन की जरूरत हैं…. pic.twitter.com/Zufl6uIOle

— Rishi Bagree 🇮🇳 (@rishibagree) May 7, 2020

Several people including Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty agreed with Rishi. They felt that such traditional ways should be adopted to curb the use of plastic. 

Love love love this 👍… way forward. https://t.co/7cne2hoIia

— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) May 8, 2020

State Govt can encourage such kinds of packing with seasonal fruits and vegetables and directly sourced from Aadivasis point of business. This will be a kind of win-win deal for both, farmers and consumers. No delay for such projects!

— Kailash Semwal (@SemwalChander) May 7, 2020

Very nice. If govt takes the note of this seriously they can create #Rozgar 2 many #Adivasis's. Only thing is, this 1 needs 2 b done by giving some sort of support so that it can be re-used & it should be sturdy enough to bear the weight. This is so eco-friendly & it's beautiful.

— @iamAK (@kumbleanjan) May 8, 2020

This will save our tradition and our tribal brothers and their families as we..

SAY NO TO PLASTIC.

— Brahmआstra⚡⚡ब्रह्मAस्त्र⚡⚡ (@Brahmos_Pandey) May 8, 2020

These bags are very useful eco-friendly,it should be regularize in all "Sabzi Mandi" and "Fruit Mandis" while giving opportunities of employment in tribal people.@thekiranbedi @narendramodi @anjanaomkashyap @rahulkanwal @RahulGandhi @aajtak

— Kamal Vadhera (@kamal_vadhera) May 7, 2020

This is make in India 🇮🇳 real product

— Pravin Darji (@pravindarji1) May 7, 2020

Very true. Such packaging ideas need to be promoted all over India

— I Vijayan (@IVijayan2) May 8, 2020

However, many others also raised the question about how could we possibly scale production of leaf products for such a large population: 

Tats totally true. But the amount of plastic we use on daily basis, this natural woven bags can not replace that.

— тнє cυríoυѕ (@CuriousPioneer) May 7, 2020

The amount of plastic we use, this solution is unsustainable. Not enough land to grow and support the demand round the year.

— The Rebel (@Therebel04) May 7, 2020

For this to happen we should take tree plantation on a mission mode and increase green cover by 30% in next 10 years focusing on trees which have numerous usages.

— hotvax (@hotvax) May 7, 2020

Not scalable for a billion plus population. We've to have plastic or paper.

Recyclable & bio-degradable plastic/paper coupled with recycling infrastructure is what we need!

Not such novelties.

— Pradeep (@_brutum) May 7, 2020

If we all consciously start putting efforts to reduce plastic usage, it might help the bigger cause. What do you think? Tell us!