On May 3 2020, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Public Grievances,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh participated in the Bamboo Conclave through Video Conference.
- The aim of the conference was to discuss the importance of Bamboo, which will provide an opportunity for India to emerge as an economic powerpost COVID-19.
Centre provided boost to Bamboo sector in last 6 years:
Government over the last six years has accorded highest priority to the development of the North Eastern region, which resulted in a boost to the bamboo sector which it had never received since independence. It should be noted that the northeast consists of 60% of India’s reserve of Bamboo.
- Also the govt. amended the 100 year old Indian Forest Act, 1927 brought in 2017, as a result of which, home grown bamboo has been exempted from it in order to enhance livelihood opportunities through bamboo.
Bamboo sector during lockdown:
On April 16, 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed the functioning of bamboo related activities like planting, process etc. which has shown the importance of bamboo with regards to the economy.
Key Points:
-Currently, the total requirement of “Agarbatti” in India is about 2,30,000 per annum and the market value of it is up to Rs 5000 crore, we have been importing a large bulk of it from countries like China and Vietnam.
-Ministry of North East working out time bound plan for promotion of bamboo manufacturing and trade, and also work out feasibility of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in this sector.
-Bamboo can be processed into multiple products, including bio-diesel and green fuel, wooden lumbers and plywood, which can create employment opportunities in multiple sectors.
Participants:
It was attended by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), the Union Ministry of Agriculture and stakeholders from different sectors.
- Key Speakers: Indever Pandey, Special Secretary Ministry of DoNER, AlkaBhargav Additional Secretary union Ministry of Agriculture, Ramvir Singh Joint Secretary DoNER, Shailender Choudhary,Managing Director (MD),Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) and North East Handicraft & Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC) and Anna Sahab M K Patil, Member, National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and former Minister.
- The Conclave was moderated by Sanjay Ganjoo, Director General, Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE).
