STATE : World Bamboo Day 2024, celebrated at Pragna Bhawan in Agartala on September 18, where dignitaries, artisans, bamboo growers, and stakeholders committed to the growth of the bamboo sector in Tripura remain present. The event is graced by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Santana Chakma. Highlighting the day’s events, 18 emerging entrepreneurs and artisans were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to the bamboo industry, bamboo handicrafts, bamboo growers, and nursery professionals.
The Mission Director of Tripura Bamboo Mission, S. Prabhu, highlighted the significance of the celebration of World Bamboo Day and the importance of Bamboo in the socio-economic development of Tripura. Minister Santana Chakma, in her address, emphasized the importance of bamboo as a versatile material and sustainable resource. She acknowledged the efforts of bamboo growers and craftsmen in contributing to the state’s economy and repeated the government’s commitment to promoting bamboo-related industries. To augment handicraft production and support the bamboo artisans, toolkits for bamboo bottle making were distributed to the TULM-sponsored artisans under the National Bamboo Mission scheme. This initiative aimed to equip the artisans with the necessary tools to enhance their craftsmanship and productivity. The distribution of these toolkits represents a step toward empowering local artisans and promoting bamboo-based products on a larger scale.
R.K. Samal, Principal Secretary (Forest)/PCCF & HoFF, spoke about the environmental benefits of bamboo and its role in promoting a green economy. Secretary I&C Kiran Gitte discussed the various initiatives undertaken by the government to support bamboo cultivation and the development of bamboo-based products. He has highlighted the launching of an ADB-NBM-supported project on “Value Chain Development of Bamboo in North Eastern States,” under which an Integrated Bamboo Park with all required infrastructure was proposed along with primary processing centers with the approximate expenditure of Rs. 210 Cr. The CEO of IGDC, Wandup Bhutia, also shared insights about the ongoing projects and the potential for bamboo in generating employment and fostering sustainable livelihoods.