Agartala, Feb 05: Bhajan Sharma, who is making bamboo-based products for the last 48 years has come a long way. He started this by making mats out of bamboo sticks now making decorative items and sculptures.
Bhajan Sharma, the state-recognized artisan told NorthEastRising, “We who are doing the artwork, in return we are not getting enough penny because we are selling this product at 1000. Now the organization has 50 percent profit on it and then forwards it to the next step. Then they add GST. But if the government waives GST then our industry will develop more in the coming days because this thing of mine costs 1000 rupees and people buy it from me and sell it for 1500 rupees and add GST to it. If GST is added here it comes to Rs 1500 and if again 12% GST is added then it comes to around Rs 1900. We are not able to give proper income to artisans who make these things by hand. As it is not machinery work, it is totally handmade products.”
India is the second-largest bamboo-growing country in the world. The North Eastern state represents 28% of the country’s bamboo stock and Tripura has 2397 sq. Km of bamboo forests forms about 23% geographical area of the state. Muli bamboo comprises about 80% of the bamboo resources and this is the only single-stand bamboo (non-clump forming) most widely used species in the state.
“I have been doing this work since 1975 and in 1979 I got registration from the government. Since then, I use to supply goods to government organizations as well. Being successful gradually with these works, I have reached here today. We export our goods to many cities all over India like Chennai, Guwahati, Kerala and many more places. We also participate in the industrial fair IICF held in Delhi and sell goods. Similarly, we go to many places and sell our goods and we also welcome those who come from outside the country. The government gives the same gifts to the guests who come from outside the country because there is no industry making such goods in Tripura,” added Bhajan Sharma while talking to NorthEastRising.
The Government of Tripura has introduced the Tripura Bamboo Mission to afford a dynamic and robust platform to the tribal and rural community of Tripura which depends on the bamboo sector for their livelihood. The Mission was created under the Department of Industries and Commerce to focus more on bamboo resource availability in the state.
The government of Tripura’s initiative to boom this sector has been a blessing to the artisans. This helps them to grow as an individual. Even during the COVID pandemic, the organization asked the artisans to sell their products.
Bhajan Sharma stated that “Even in Covid-19, our work was going on even though not 100% but 60% work was going on, at that time Purbasha, a government organization, purchased our goods and helped us. I would like to tell you that after 2018 there has been a boom in our business. It was there before that too but after 2018 there has been a lot of development.”
Bhajan Sharma’s whole family is involved in this along with he can provide employment to the neighborhood.
Prasenjit Sharma, son of Bhajan Sharma who was making the frame with bamboo stated that “Since 1976, my father has been associated with this work, which has been going on since the time of our forefathers. We are earning well from this work; we can pay them and we are earning ourselves the demand for things is much higher than before and we are well supported by the government. For example, a few days ago we received various machines. So, for that our labor force and machine power has increased as we can make new things and because of this our employment is also increasing and we can give work to people and earn income.”
Tripura Cane and Bamboo handicrafts are considered to be among the best in the country for their exquisite designs, a wide range of products, and artistic appeal. This industry has great export potential as well.
Not only that, industrial products like bamboo tiles, laminated products, ply boards, corrugated sheets, etc., can be produced and used as building materials for furniture manufacture, etc. Studies have shown that Bamboo is a very effective substitute for timber and is, in fact, better in many respects.
The state government also gift these handcraft to special guest like the Prime Minister of India, the President of India, and other to encourage the artisans.
Bhajan Sharma was very proud to say that “my works has been gifted to the President of India.”
“My handmade stuff has been gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and others. With this work, our family is running very well. Apart from this, I am also helping neighbors by providing them employment through which they can get some financial support to earn their bread and butter. In the same way, our work also increases and our artisans learn the work from here and start their own work and move forward. The goods that we make here are used in many offices and five-star hotels. When the Prime Minister came to Tripura, the state government purchased a wooden temple from our workshop and gave it to him as a gift. The other ministers of our country who comes here or any foreign representative from outside visit Tripura, are given the goods made here as a gift. This is the biggest reason for our happiness and I feel very happy that they have my creations as a gift. This is the biggest happiness and pride for me. There is a government scheme, Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) through which we got some help and they have helped us a lot and we do the rest by ourselves,” He added.
The State Government has launched Tripura Bamboo Mission in PPP mode, for integrated development of the Bamboo sector in Tripura. The implementation of the Project started in August 2007.
The Mission is focused on the development of 4 sub-sectors, namely, Bamboo Plantations, Bamboo Handicrafts, Bamboo Incense Sticks, and Bamboo Industrial Applications. The catalytic role played by TBM has resulted in increased turnover as well as livelihood generation.
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Meena Sheel, working with Bhajan Sharma told us that “I do my household work in the morning and come here by 10:00 to work. I have been working here for 7 years. Many things are made here like partitioned wooden temples, the Taj Mahal, and Rajbari. All designs are cut by machine and I do all types of design cutting.”
As per the information provided by the Tripura Bamboo Mission office, now around 2 lakh artisans have been connected with them. The focus has been to address the resource requirement of the various bamboo value-addition clusters.
While Bamboo Plantation in the state is being undertaken by the Forest department in forest areas, TBM is implementing Bamboo Plantation in private lands, mostly RoFR lands through a cluster development approach.
Besides its limited scope, the bamboo growers & farmers engaged in commercial bamboo plantations & nurseries into Bamboo Producers’ Societies.
The organization has so far implemented a plantation of around 1500 Ha of commercially important bamboo species across various rural development Blocks of Tripura till 2016 and during the current plantation season 2017, it has planned 1000 ha of bamboo plantation with support from MGNERGA. It has also mobilized CSR funding from ITC ltd towards technical support and the creation of planting material focusing on Tulda bamboo.
Mamata Acharya, another artisan working with the same stated that this work makes her independent and also can help her husband to earn a livelihood.
“I have been involved in this work for 10 years. I have been working here for a long time. I make bamboo products here. With the help of Bhajan Da, I am now able to support my family financially. It feels great to work here,” Mamata Acharya said.
Bamboo species available in Tripura:
21 species of bamboo are found in Tripura. The most common bamboos are:
- Muli (Melocanna baccifera)
- Barak (Bambusa balcooa)
- Bari (Bambusa polymorph)
- Mritinga (Bambusa tulda)
- Paora (Bambusa teres)
- Rupai (Dendrocalamus longispathus)
- Dolu (Neohuzeaua dullooa)
- Makal (Bambusa pallida)
- Pecha (Dendrocalamus hamiltonii)
- Kanak kaich (Bambusa affinis)
- Jai (Bambusa spp.)
Gouri Sharma, wife of Bhajan Sharma, who also help the husband in making the art pieces said “I have been married for 30 to 35 years since then my husband and I have been doing this work. With the money from this work, we have raised our son and given him an education. We work and along with us, there are 10-12 other people who also work with us. We all make a living from this work and also, and we have got many facilities from the government as well.”
Expanding the business operation in emerging marketplaces of the USA, Middle East, and Malaysia, the Bamboo Industry of Tripura has generated approximately 109 crores in revenue. Under the National bamboo mission, the bamboo industry in Tripura with a 60% subsidize loan from the national government, is gaining an international reputation by exporting its bamboo products.
The raw bamboo, Kanak Kasich has been exporting to different parts of the world is used to make a fishing rod. The Star products of this industry are baskets, decorative items, Furniture, and Agarbattis to Bangalore and Gaya and other parts of the country.
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Bamboo And Cane Culture Of Tripura
The hilly frontier state has a unique tradition in arts and crafts, sculpture and architecture, textiles, wood-carving, basketry, and cane and bamboo work. Bamboo and Cane is one of the most important crafts of the state.
The crafts spread all over the state with concentrations in the sub-divisions of Kailasahar, Dharmanagar, Khowai, Sadar, Sooamura, and Belonia besides Agartala town. The articles made include mats, bags, moorahs, fruit baskets, and vases. The Craft Teacher’s Institute (CTTI) set up by the State Government has done commendable work in this field.
The State Department of Industries runs a Design Extension Centre at Agartala and the All India Handicrafts Board had established a Bamboo and Cane Development Institute, which has taken up research in the chemical treatment of bamboo. It also provides an advanced course of training in bamboo work, seasoning, preservation, and craft design.
The Agartala Jail too had developed furniture items. At Agartala, a private registered society and several other units have taken up the production of popular handicraft items, specializing in bamboo screens, lamp stands, and table mats.
A large number of structures using bamboo as a primary material are built in the plains of Tripura. These structures may be houses, granaries, shops, workspaces, or even large warehouses.
They are of lightweight construction to withstand severe earthquakes; at the same time, they are also wind resistant. The state of Tripura is famous for its bamboo screens made from split bamboo, so finely woven that they look almost like ivory. They are delicately appliqued with colored bamboo chips.
