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Clay cups make a comeback to Indian Railways in bid to reduce environmental pollution

3 min read

Sustainable Planet
Clay cups make a comeback to Indian Railways in bid to reduce environmental pollution
Source: IndiaTVNews

India’s Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announces that tea will be once again be sold in eco-friendly earthen ‘Kulhads’ in place of plastic cups at all railway stations nationwide.

Indian Railways to reintroduce clay cups for tea

As part of a drive to make India plastic-free, some 7000 railway stations across the country will be reintroducing biodegradable and environmentally-friendly earthen cups called ‘kulhads’ for serving tea. Piyush Goyal, Union Railway Minister said that 400 railway stations are already serving tea in kulhads and efforts will be taken to bring in the same policy in the rest of the stations as well. “Kulhads will not only help reduce the use of toxic plastic and save the environment, but they will also give employment and income to hundreds of thousands of potters,“ he said.

India has a rich tradition of pottery. Although demand for such products has been falling as more Indians turn to plastic, steel and melamine, an earthen water pot for storing water is still a feature of village life.
Kulhads being traditionally hand-thrown India has a rich tradition of pottery. Although demand for such products has been falling as more Indians turn to plastic, steel and melamine, an earthen water pot for storing water is still a feature of village life. Source: IndiaToday

Eco-friendly ‘kulhad’ to replace plastic tea cups at railway stations

Tea is to be sold in environmentally-friendly ‘Kulhads’ (earthen cups) in place of plastic cups at all railway stations in the country, Railway minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday 29 November. Speaking at an event organised at the Digawara railway station in Rajasthan’s Alwar district, the minister said the initiative will be the contribution of the Railways towards a plastic-free India.

"Tea is given in ‘Kulhads’ at nearly 400 railway stations in the country today, and in future, it is our planning that tea will be sold only in ‘Kulhads’ at all the railway stations in the country. This will be the contribution of the Railways towards a plastic-free India," he said. Indian Railway (IR) runs more than 20,000 passenger trains daily, on both long-distance and suburban routes, from 7,349 stations across India.

The minister said before addressing this gathering, he was having tea in a ‘Kulhad’ and the taste was really different. ‘Kulhad’ saves the environment and hundreds of thousands of people get employment and income from it, he said.

The minister was speaking at an event to mark the inauguration of the newly electrified Dhigawara-Bandikui section under north-western Railways.

Source: IndiaTVNews

In a time of endless consumerism and a throwaway culture, they symbolise an earth-based and crafts-based way of living.
Traditional ancient Indian clay cups to serve tea/water/buttermilk, crafted in bulk by potters in Kumbharwada, Dharavi. In a time of endless consumerism and a throwaway culture, they symbolise an earth-based and crafts-based way of living. Source: Mumbai-Eyed.Blogspot
The most interesting feature of kulhar is not being painted and that differentiates a kulhar from a terra-cotta cup. The kulhar cup is unglazed inside out. Since kulhars are made by firing in a kiln and are almost never reused, they are inherently sterile and hygienic.
A kulhar (Hindi: कुल्हड़) or kulhad, sometimes called a shikora, is a traditional handle-less clay cup from India and Pakistan that is typically unpainted and unglazed, and meant to be disposable. The most interesting feature of kulhar is not being painted and that differentiates a kulhar from a terra-cotta cup. The kulhar cup is unglazed inside out. Since kulhars are made by firing in a kiln and are almost never reused, they are inherently sterile and hygienic. Source: India.com
Yoghurt, hot milk with sugar as well as some regional desserts, such as kulfi (traditional ice-cream), are also served in kulhars. Kulhars have gradually given way to polystyrene and coated paper cups, because the latter are lighter to carry in bulk and cheaper.⁠
Bazaars and food stalls in the Indian subcontinent traditionally served hot beverages, such as tea, in kuhlars, which suffused the beverage with an “earthy aroma” that was often considered appealing. Yoghurt, hot milk with sugar as well as some regional desserts, such as kulfi (traditional ice-cream), are also served in kulhars. Kulhars have gradually given way to polystyrene and coated paper cups, because the latter are lighter to carry in bulk and cheaper.⁠ Source: IndiaTVNews
'Kulhad' to replace plastic tea cups at all railway stations Tea will be sold in environment-friendly 'kulhads' in place of plastic cups at all railway stations in the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. The minister said that in future tea will be sold only in kulhads at all railway stations in the country. Kulhads save the environment and hundreds of thousands of people can get employment from it, Goyal added. Lalu Prasad had reintroduced kulhads at train some stations as railway minister in 2004. Source: YouTube/editorji
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48 ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS TO HELP STOP PLASTIC POLLUTION

ONYA put together this list of eco friendly products to show you just how easy it can be to replace some of the plastic products you buy. By replacing them, you can virtually eliminate your single use plastic pollution in that area.<br /> One of the best ways to fight plastic pollution is to live by example and ensure the products you buy are produced with both ethics and the environment in mind. Also, don’t forget to share the journey with your friends and family.  The more friends you convince, the more people you share articles like this one with, the more people will begin using environmentally friendly products in their everyday lives, and that is how we change the world.