Assam: DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launches Rs 82.5 crore bamboo projects in Guwahati
Guwahati: The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on Sunday launched two bamboo sector projects with a combined outlay of Rs 82.5 crore.
The projects are being implemented by the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) and were inaugurated in Guwahati.
They were developed over 18 months through planning, stakeholder consultations, and coordination among MDoNER, the North Eastern Council (NEC), and NECBDC.
The ministry conducted value-chain assessments, cluster studies, market research, and consultations with state governments, artisans, industry stakeholders, and private sector partners.
The projects are designed to support traditional livelihoods and promote industrial development in the bamboo sector.
The launch event saw participation from over 500 people, attending both in person and virtually. Participants included officials from MDoNER, NEC, and NECBDC, representatives from private sector partners such as Amazon, Flipkart, and All Time Plastics, as well as bamboo artisans, entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and other stakeholders from across the North Eastern Region.
Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed for the first project with Gaurav Bhatnagar, Director of Sales, Amazon India, and Girish Nair, Director, Corporate Affairs & Public Policy, Flipkart.
One MoU was signed for the second project with Kailesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director, All Time Plastics Ltd. The projects are located in Karbi Anglong, Assam, and Mokokchung, Nagaland.
The first project, ‘Strengthening Traditional Bamboo Artisan Clusters’, focuses on modernising tools, designs, and production processes, upgrading Common Facility Centres, and integrating artisans with digital and organised retail systems.
More than 4,500 artisans are expected to benefit through skill development, improved product quality, and better market access. E-commerce platforms will assist with onboarding artisan groups, capacity building, catalogue development, and connecting artisans to pan-India markets.
The second project, ‘Promotion of Engineered Bamboo Products’, focuses on industrial-scale, value-added bamboo manufacturing. It aims to produce engineered bamboo boards, panels, furniture, and composite products as sustainable alternatives to timber, plastics, and conventional construction materials.
The initiative will establish processing and manufacturing clusters in Assam and Nagaland, support 1,000 hectares of certified bamboo plantations, and train 1,000 youth and artisans in advanced processing techniques.
It follows principles of zero-waste processing, circular economy, and international sustainability standards. The partnership with All Time Plastics will support product development, industrial applications, market linkages, and sales promotion, enabling domestic and international market access.
According to M. C. Omi Ningshen, Managing Director, NECBDC, the projects aim to create a structured, market-oriented bamboo ecosystem that combines traditional skills with modern technology and institutional support.
The initiatives are expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities, improve income security for rural and tribal communities, and promote the North Eastern Region as a centre for bamboo-based products.