Enabling Bamboo Policy in India: From Ideas to Action

8th December 2014

Workshop on Bamboo Policy for Officials and Stake Holders on 06 December 2014 at Hotel Grand, Cochin

Enabling Bamboo Policy in India: From Ideas to Action
(Workshop on Bamboo Policy for Officials and Stake Holders)
(06 December 2014 - Hotel Grand, Cochin)

India has 20% of World’s bamboo resources and the North East India has 52% of India’s bamboo resources which is to be proud of. Bamboo provides the necessities of life to common man besides it bestows upon us many environmental and ecological benefits. However, management of natural bamboo forests received less attention in the past which resulted in heavy exploitation and depletion of the stock and the sites. Voice from different organisations and stake holders have been raised from time to time to unleash bamboo from clutches of bureaucracy and heavy regulations. Government also has shown keen interest on this, keeping in mind the potential benefit rural, tribal and other communities, living in and around forest area can garner which will have significant impact on their life and livelihood.

In this regard Centre for Civil Society (CCS) in collaboration with South Asia Bamboo Foundation (SABF) and Kerala State Bamboo Mission (KSBM) with support from Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) is organising a day long workshop on Saturday, 06 December in Cochin alongside the Kerala Bamboo Festival. The workshop was attended by policy makers, officials and stake holders engaged in implementation of bamboo schemes including the provisions of Forest Rights Act 2006 and other schemes of Government of India where bamboo can play a predominant role.

The workshop aims to enable participants on understanding core issues regarding bamboo market in India, method and ways to deal with identified challenges to unleash potential of bamboo as resource. The workshop will cover topics such as enabling bamboo enterprises, bamboo for social sector and livelihood development, Institutional mechanism, Experiences from other similar sector through thematic sessions.

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. C. P. John (Member, Kerala State Planning Board and Vice-Chairman, Kerala State Bamboo Mission) while Dr. B. S. Corrie (IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Kerala) delivered special address to the participants. Addressing the participants of the workshop, Mr. John said, “Country today requires a strong legislative framework to facilitate the bamboo sector. We have ample learning from MGNREGA and similar framework would ensure livelihood opportunities for millions. He also mooted the idea for introducing as Bamboo Act to be introduced like Railway act or Rubber act ”

Mr. Kamesh Salam, Founder and Director, South Asia Bamboo Foundation welcoming the participants underlined the need for reforms in bamboo in India as the present Mission mode approach needs to be commoditised to make bamboo more visible like Tea, Rubber, Coffee, Coir, Silk, Jute, Spice etc. He also emphasis that in spite of rich bamboo resources in India bamboo development remains a non starter due to multiple agencies being operated and over lapping of agencies working for bamboo. He also stressed that import of common product like “agarbatti” bamboo sticks and non availability of bamboo by the industry are indicators of failure to make bamboo mission activities in India impact for promoting this “Poor man’s Timber” in India. There is need for advocacy and lobby to promote bamboo he stressed.

Introductory address during the workshop was delivered by Mr. P. K. Mohanty, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest and Wild Life), Government of Kerala. . The workshop was attended by delegates and key resource persons from Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Development Workers from Maharashtra, NID, KFRI, Kerala Forest Department Officials, Spice Board, Coir Board, World Bamboo Organisations, European Bamboo Society, Representative of American Bamboo Society, Representative of South Asia Chair, IUCN/Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), Nepal, Afghanistan, Belgium..

The workshop was designed in four thematic sessions. The first session focused on ‘Regulatory Framework for Bamboo’ which majorly highlighted issues regarding definition, harvesting regulations and transit permit etc hindering the growth of bamboo sector. The second session was on ‘Enabling Bamboo Enterprises’ which brought out issues regarding commoditizing bamboo, product marketing and design, quality standards for bamboo products etc.

The third session highlighted the possibilities including bamboo in housing Schemes, sanitation campaigns, community and livelihood enterprises, cluster development in the ‘Bamboo for Social Sector and Livelihood Development’. The fourth session dealt with the question, whether bamboo initiatives should be facilitated as mission, board or authority under the session ‘Institutional Mechanism for Bamboo’. The participants also had facilitated discussion where in they designed the basics for the possible legislative framework for bamboo. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Amit Chandra and Mr. Manoj Mathew of Delhi based think tank Centre for Civil Society.