SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 28: Finger Millet (Madua) made items have been declared as the official dishes to be served at government functions in Deoghar. The district administration has issued a notification to officers of the district headquarters and block level to serve only Madua made ‘Ladoo’, biscuits, ‘chura mixture’ and other items as refreshments on leaf made plates and bowls with immediate effect.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Deoghar, Manjunath Bhajantri in his order has instructed the officers to provide Madua Ladoo, biscuit, and Chura mixture as refreshments at official meetings right from district headquarters to block level. This is being done for the promotion of Madua made items and leaf-made biodegradable plates and bowls. This instruction comes as a way to put a message in the society to take health and the environment seriously.
“Refreshments made from Madua served on leaf made plates and bowls is healthy and would encourage people to adhere to it,” said the DC.
Officials said that the district administration has already implemented Madua made items as the official dish at headquarter level. At a meeting of the Revenue Department at the Collectorate on Saturday, madua made Ladoo, biscuit and other items were served in a leaf bowl to officers. “Even tea was served in clay-made crockery (Kulhad),” they added.
Officers and staff right from the district headquarters to Panchayat level, including the DC, have also resolved to use leaf made plates and bowls in their houses on every Sunday.
Since the ban on thermocol plate-bowls in the Babadham temple area and some wards of Municipal Corporation, the sale of leaf-made plate-bowls as their counterparts has gained momentum in Deoghar. As per the official sources, thousands of women in different villages have turned it into a small industry entrepreneurship opportunity by supplying handmade biodegradable plate-bowls in the township.
