Shillong, Aug 8: The North Eastern Council (NEC) on Tuesday discussed the need to set up a North East Bamboo Development Council (NEBDC) in order to promote bamboo sector in the Northeast.
The meeting was chaired by NEC member, C. K. Das.
Addressing the meeting, NEC secretary, Ram Muivah, mentioned that following the decision taken in the second meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Bamboo Sector Coordination Group held at New Delhi on July 6 under the chairmanship of DoNER secretary, Naveen Verma, the meeting was held with representatives from the State governments of North Eastern Region and other stakeholder institutions.
Das, in his opening remarks stated that though India has the second largest bamboo resource in the world, however its position is below 10 in terms of world bamboo trade and is a net importer of most bamboo products.
“One of the reasons identified is the complicated and unfavorable policies. Notwithstanding high potential for production, consumption and exports, a body like the NEBDC will go a long way in promoting bamboo sector in North East India in a coordinated manner,” Das said.
The objective of NEBDC is to dedicatedly promote bamboo sector by facilitating, coordinating and mobilizing efforts aimed at promoting the sector. The NEBDC will also be the body of knowledge and think tank for policy making and advisory roles.
The North East Bamboo Development Council was set up as a society under Societies Registration Act, 1860. It will have a high level governing body and an executive body with a professional managerial setup.
The NEBDC will help in accelerating growth of bamboo plantations and industries in the region and cater to requirements of all States of the region in this field.
The meeting also decided to set up Bamboo Resource Centres in all NER States. Discussions were also held for celebrating National Bamboo Day on September 18.
The meeting was also attended by NEC planning adviser, C.H. Kharshiing, economic adviser, D. Khound, NEC adviser, G. Chintey, Director Ministry of DoNER, Roui Kullai, and senior officials of State governments in the North Eastern Region.