C&B April 2005

The erstwhile princely State of Tripura, once known as H ill Tippera, is located in the extreme southwest corner of the North Eastern region of India. This ancient land of mysterious past is bounded on the north, west, and southeast by Bangladesh and in the east by Assam and Mizoram.

The history of genus Bambusa or Bamboo is not only rich, but also warrants a promising future for humanity. It has benefited human societies since times immemorial, and continues to be a tremendous asset to billions of people around the world. Bamboo is a fast-growing widespread, renewable, versatile, low-or no-cost, environment-enhancing resource with the potential to improve life in the years to come, in both the rural and urban areas of the developed and developing world.

Bamboo today contributes to the subsistence needs of over a billion people, and has played a significant role in human society since time immemorial. Traditional uses as varied as fuel, food, housing and shelter, tools, and music comprise but a part of the broad spectrum of bamboo use. At the same time, equally important are bamboo's industrial uses and its potential role in mankind's future. Bamboo for pulp and paper, construction and engineering materials, panel products, and an array of modern uses are becoming better known.

The Tsunami Relief Committee of the Mizoram Governmen has despatched one lakh bamboo sticks to Tamil Nadu.

The panel, which held a meeting earlier to discuss the despatch of bamboo building materials to the worst-affectec areas in the country decided to send one lakh sticks to Tami Nadu during the first phase of providing relief aid.

The Government of the North Eastern Indian State of Mizoram is concerned these days about the fact that a species of bamboo is all set to flower after 48 years. The flowers, which are considered a bad omen by the Mizos, lead to the proliferation of rats, which in turn brings about a famine.

The Planning Commission has thrown up an idea to form a National Bamboo Development Board and expand the present Rs. 2,600 crore Bamboo Mission into a full-fledged directorate.

The pre-feasibility report has already been scrutinised by the Agriculture Ministry, and the final report is expected to be placed before the Cabinet by February next year.

With India pursuing a Look East policy with a lot more vigour than before, an attempt to integrate the economy of the North East is now being made in the hope of forging long term links with member nations of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Part of this goal is being met by artisans of Manipur and other North Eastern States actively promoting their hand­made products recently, a Manipur Trade Fair was organised in Assam's principal city of Guwahati by the North Eastern Development Financial Institution (NEDFi).

After a gap of nearly two years, the Union  Budget 2005-06 will see allocations for the BamboO Mission as a means of sustained employment. The National Mission on Bamboo Technology and Trade Development was a programme initiated by the NDA government. The project had been gathering dust. Reliable sources indicate that the new Budget could provide an allocation of Rs. 200 crore for the programme.

From toothpicks to baskets, furniture to lacquer ware, mats to musical instruments, from toys to talking sticks, bamboo can make it all.