Tribal youth in Tripura receive training to produce bamboo products

AGARTALA, Nov 6: The Bamboo and Cane Development Institute (BCDI) in Tripura is providing advanced training to tribal youth to produce various products of bamboo by using latest technology.

Bamboo is one of the most abundantly available tural resources in Tripura and other parts of Northeastern India.

Some twenty youth from the remote areas of Tripura have joined a short-term training programme sponsored by Tripura Japan Intertiol Cooperation Agency (TJICA) in collaboration of Bamboo and Cane Development Institute in Agartala.

Traditiolly ‘jhum’ cultivators, these youth are now ready to start their own production units of bamboo products. They learn to make bamboo products by using latest tools and techniques.

“I am taking this training to start producing my own bamboo products. We are learning many things from the trainer and are using drill, grinder and other tools which we have not used earlier. Traditiolly, we use to harvest bamboo and sell them raw in the market. We use to earn Rs 15 to Rs 20 for each bamboo but if we make these products we can earn up to Rs 500,” said Baja Tripura, a trainee.

“I have learned to make various bamboo items. I am a student and joined this one and a half month long training to hone my skills. I have learned making various items like basket, dustbin, pen stand and various decorative items for house,” added another trainee Surajit Biswas.

During the training period, the students get free food and lodging facilities along with monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 which helps them to fincially support their families during the training period.

The trained youth are provided with required production centre, tools, raw materials and market linkages so that they can settle in their trade.

“Sustaible livelihood improvement is the main focus of the project.  21 species of bamboo are available in the forest, so the resource is available but the value addition is really very important for the people who are really dependent on this forest. So keeping these things in view the project has taken initiative during the last four years in association with the Bamboo and Cane Development Institute,” said CEO and Project Director, Tripura JICA Project GS Raju.

The Tripura Japan Intertiol Cooperation Agency runs three showrooms selling bamboo products made by its trained artisans. It encourages bamboo artists to find suitable market for their products. (ANI)