The Government of India has several policies to support the bamboo sector in India. These policies include promoting bamboo plantation, strengthening bamboo based handicrafts, and developing bamboo based technology applications. Bamboo Sector Development is considered as livelihood project for poor weaker section, artisans, growers and farmers especially SC & ST.
The Missions have been set up by GoI
The ministry of agriculture, Government of India has launched the National Bamboo Mission with 60-40 ratio central assistance to increase bamboo production, promote cottage & handicraft industry through value additions and marketing etc. The mission targets 176,000 hectares of fresh plantation with 88,000 hectares each in forest and non-forest areas. It is projected that over 35 million man days of employment will be generated through plantation activities. Once the non-forest areas plantations are established, the employment potential is projected to touch 60 million man days from bamboo plantation alone. Assuming an average of 300 man-days of employment per person in a year, this will translate into employment opportunities for 2 lakh persons. More importantly, the entire employment generation will be in rural areas largely benefiting the tribal and the poorest of the poor population in the country.
Programmes will be implemented as follows:
:: Non-Forest Areas: through DBDA / Farmer Beneficiaries.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER (HANDICRAFTS)
The DC (Handicrafts) under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India has several programs to strengthen bamboo based handicrafts. The programs focus on an integrated development of the bamboo artisans on a cluster based approach. The various schemes of DC (Handicrafts) include Creation of raw material banks, setting up of common facility centers, establishment of resource centre for bamboo crafts, design/development, skill training, marketing support and addressing the social security needs.