CCEA approves launching National Bamboo Mission

New Delhi, OCt 27 (UNI) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for launching a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on National Bamboo Mission (NBM) at a cost of Rs 568.23 crore.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters the NBM will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation with 100 per cent assistance from the Centre. It will include an outlay of Rs 91.37 crore during 2006-07 (Xth Plan) and its implementation during the current financial year and also the next four years of the XIth Five Year Plan.

The CCEA also gave its 'In Princple' approval for continuing the Mission during the remaining period of the XIth Five Year Plan.

Mr Dasmunsi said the Mission would include coverage of 1.76 lakh hectare area under Bamboo Plantation activities over a period of five years.

Presently, 8.96 million hectare forest area of the country is under bamboo cultivation, that forms about 12.8 per cent of the forest cover.

Other benefits would be employment generation of 50.4 million man days of work, estimated employment generation of about 9.7 lakh man days in the nursery sector, about 505 nurseries and three Tissue Culture laboratories would be set up to produce sufficient planting material.

The objective of the NBM is to promote growth of bamboo sector through area-based, regionally differentiated strategies which include increasing coverage area under bamboo in potential areas with appropriate varieties to enhance yields, promote marketing of bamboo and bamboo-based handicrafts, establish convergence and synergy among stake-holders for development of the product. The mission also aims to promote, develop and disseminate technologies, generate employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled people, especially unemployed youths.

The NBM will have a three-tier structure with a National Level Apex Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Union Minister of Agriculture. It will have Ministers of Forest, Textile, Science and Technology, Commerce, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Urban Development&Poverty Alleviation, Development of North Eastern Region, Small Scale Industries, Ministers of Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture from select States, Member (Environment&Forests) in Planning Commission and experts as members.

The Committee will meet annually to provide overall guidance, monitoring and review.

National Steering Committee will be constituted under Secretary, Department of Agriculture &and Cooperation. Secretaries from each of the departments concerned with bamboo including bamboo experts and representative from the NABARD will be members of this Committee.

The Committee will meet quarterly to reviewing the progress and for approving the projects. It will ensure there is no duplication between the activities of the Mission and the National Mission on Bamboo Applications set up underv the Ministry of Science and Techhology.

National Bamboo Cell will be established under the Mission Director in the DAC. The NBM would ensure networking with various financial institutions to facilitate availability of credit, Mr Dasmunsi added.

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