Govt to empower 5 lakh tribals in 5 yrs through bamboonomics

New Delhi: Giving a boost to tribal economics, the Tribal Affairs Ministry led by Union Minister Arjun Munda has rolled out different programmes to promote tribal enterprises across the country. Among all, the most important programme that has hit the streets of tribal regions include bamboonomics, which is aimed at benefitting about 5 lakh tribals in the next five years by increasing their incomes by at least 10 times.

While talking to the Millennium Post, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation (TRIFED) managing director Pravir Krishna said that the government has taken an initiative to make economically viable use of bamboo with focus on making carbon-free charcoal.

"As the government has changed the definition of bamboo from tree to grass, it's going to be a major economical gain for tribal population of the country. Tribal lives in areas where there is a huge amount of bamboo plantation.

As per reports, over 10.2 million tonne of bamboo stock exists in the tribal areas," Krishna said, adding that tribal would get many opportunities to sell their products made of bamboo and increase their income.

"In India, the usage of bamboo is just 20 per cent and it's further depleting due to import of bamboo-made products from China. The focus of the government is to encourage tribals to manufacture products made of bamboo by providing market for their products," he said, adding that the tribals who are getting just Rs 250 for a bamboo would now earn at least Rs 2,500 by selling bamboo-made products.

"Apart from participating in international bamboo festivals across the globe, the government would organise local festivals in the tribal-dominated areas to showcase different bamboo products," he said, adding that Union Tribal Minister Arjun Munda had recently launched the biggest tribal movement Bamboonomics at 'COP 14 UNCCD'.

In his speech, Union Minister Arjun Munda had stressed on the importance of indigenous community in combating desertification and for environmental upgradation.

Munda had further said, "Tribal community has lived in a very eco-friendly manner for generations in and around the forest areas and they have never degraded the forest lands. So, their expertise and experience should be taken into consideration."