BODOLAND BAMBOO POLICY - 2011

Introduction:

Bodoland Bamboo Development Board was notified under Deptt. of Agriculture, Bodoland Territorial Council (under sixth schedule of the Constitution of India in 2003) to the notification of the Bodoland Bamboo Policy on 12th August 2011 and initiative thereon. The Board is headed by a governing body under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Executive Member, Agriculture under the Hon’ble Chief of BTC.

Vision:

Bodoland Territorial Council (sixth schedule of the constitution of India as amended in 2003) will encourage, promote and support the development of the bamboo sector in a comprehensive manner, through a multidisciplinary, multidepartmental and multi-dimensional integrated approach to provide economic benefits to the people of the Bodoland Territorial Council area.

Objective:

The objectives of the policy are to support, facilitate and catalyze:
a. Development and implementation of a sustainable community based production model for bamboo with concomitant benefits for non-forest or forest conservation.
b. Development and implementation of an economic development program using bamboo for spurring industrial development.
c. Enhancing employment and income generating opportunities using bamboo as the prime resource.
d. Protection and preservation of ecosystem in BTC areas, especially protection of slopes and riverbanks, and for sustained productivity. Conservation of biodiversity, as a large number of endangered species use bamboo forest as habitat and many take it as part of their diet. All varieties of native bamboo species shall be protected and germplasm preserved.
e. 10 % Incentive Package for Investor given by BTC.

The Market:

The Bodoland Bamboo Policy is predicated on the adoption of market-led community based development and demand driven approaches.
a. Take effective steps for developing local manufacturing capability to encourage local demand and, in turn, increase the effective demand for raw material, and the returns to cultivators.
b. Support plantation on priority of commercially significant species of bamboo.
c. Involve the community in decision making for resource generation and management, and review Bodoland regulatory mechanism that inhibit such people and community centered participation.
d. Promote market led stimulation of bamboo growing as an economic activity by easing existing regulations relating to trade and movement of bamboo to ensure appropriate income generation to growers and extractors.
e. Provide market linkages, information and support to commercial units based on bamboo products in different applications segments.
f. To Provide bamboo Trade license for Notification, the rules made under Indian Forest Act,1927 and the Supreme Court Order, Dated-15-01-1998 in the writ petition (Civil) No. 202 of 2005 and under taken to abide by the same.

Strategy:

The role of the BTC in achieving the above objectives would be that of a facilitator and promoter of activities in each of the areas outlined in the approach. The strategic direction and thrust would be provided by the Bodoland Bamboo Development Board while the community and the private sector would be the implementers of the strategy.
1. Bamboo provides subsistence and livelihood security to communities and it is a part of the cultural, social and economic traditions of the Bodoland. Bodo community based development approach would be adopted for the sector though active participation and involvement of communities under Joint Forest Management (JFM), Bamboo Development Agency under cluster cooperatives of artisans, and other mechanisms. VCDC would also be involved in promotion and development of bamboo.
2. Development of Bamboo as a Resource and Enterprise.

The implantation Partners:

1.National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA), Govt. of India, New Delhi
2.National Bamboo Mission (NBM), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi
3.Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Govt. of India, New Delhi
4.North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India, Shillong
5.Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council, New Delhi
6.Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India, New Delhi
7.Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, New Delhi
8.Ministry of Labour, Govt. of India, New Delhi
9.National Institute of Design (NID), Ahamebad
10International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Beijing, China
11.Technical Support Group _Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre, Guwahati, Assam under National Bamboo Mission
12.World Bamboo Organization (WBO), USA
13.International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
14.United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
15.The Advisor (Bamboo), Twipra Bamboo & Cane Handicrafts, Twipra, India for founder of BBDB, BTC.

Address of the organization:

Bodoland Bamboo Development Board
Bodoland Territorial Council,

2nd Floor, Directorate of Agriculture,
Kokrajhar -783370, India