Policy Workshop at Gangtok

To envisage Policy on Bamboo for the State of Sikkim, a one-day workshop was held at the Conference Hall of the Forest Secretariat in Gangtok on June 22, 2004. The Workshop was conducted by Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre in collaboration with the Government of Sikkim and sponsored by the North Eastern Council.

With an objective to discuss the policy, constraints and opportunities for the development of the bamboo based economy in the State and to provide a platform to discuss the institutional reforms needed to develop the bamboo sector in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable way, the various speakers at the Workshop deliberated on issues such as operational difficulties, logistics and supply chain problems, lack of developed market, etc.

To address these problems, the State Government has constituted a Bamboo Development Agency (BDA) with the Chief Secretary of Sikkim as the Chairman and Secretaries of different departments as board members. During his inaugural address at the Workshop, the Chief Secretary Mr. S.W. Tenzing talked about framing of a policy on bamboo for the State. Bamboo has been a part of the life of the people of Sikkim and they are very much familiar with its utilities, and it is used extensively in one form or the other. However, the lack of a proper framework and the low awareness of the economic impact of bamboo on daily life have resulted in this sector being underdeveloped.

Terming the Workshop as a good indicator for the development of bamboo culture in the State, Mr. Tenzing opined that the elite section of the society along with the NG0s, policy framers, institutions and departments should come forward to frame a policy for the State which has the potential to become a major exporter of bamboo products and open up the economy to various sections of the society.

The Additional Secretary cum Development Commissioner, Government of Sikkim, said that the policy on bamboo for the State should be framed carefully after due consideration to the feasibility and future market for the products. He requested the people's representative to mobilise the people, N G Os and panchayats for the cause.

Speaking in the Workshop, Mr. Kamesh Salam, Project Coordinator, Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC), U NIDO said that the CBTC has already submitted a project involving substantial investment to the Government of India for the development of the bamboo industry in the North Eastern Region out of which Rs. 2,000 crore will be solely used for plantation purpose.

Mr. Salam also proposed that the State Government should identify one district for the development of bamboo and fully concentrate on that area to start with. Highlighting the role of the bamboo industry in the country's economy, he also urged the gathering to come together for the development of bamboo in the region.

Mr. Punya P. Poudyal, Executive Chairman, Bamboo and Rattan Society of Nepal, who is an expert on bamboo, said that Sikkim has 53 species of bamboo that is being used in one form or other albeit in an unorganised manner.

Earlier in his inaugural address, Mr. D.R. Kharel, Member Secretary, BDA, said that though bamboo is used in Sikkim extensively, the industrial aspect is yet to be, explained. He informed the gathering that NEC has approved a proposal of Rs. 4 crore submitted by BDA for the development of bamboo in the region. A sum of Rs. 25 lakh has been received from the NEC to be used for plantation purposes.

Attended by secretaries and officers of the various departments and representatives from NABARD, N EDFi and SIDBI, it is hoped that the daylong workshop plays an important part in helping to form a policy for the development of bamboo in Sikkim.