Guwahati, May 24: The North Eastern Council (NEC), in association with the National Vocational Training System, will develop a network in the Northeast for effective use of the bamboo resources to generate livelihood options of the rural population of the region.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed recently in New Delhi, the National Vocational Training System has agreed to support the NEC through the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre at Guwahati in the project. It will provide support measures for a systematic approach for developing bamboo-related skills among poor villagers, school dropouts, illiterate people and unemployed youth.

This will also strengthen the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre in its role of planning, execution and monitoring of qualitative training measures and other follow-up services, in collaboration with the public and private training providers like ITIs.

The agreement becomes significant in view of the current shortage or poor quality of training on bamboo-based crafts, as it is expected to address the immediate subsistence needs of the people. It will also fulfil the requirement for non-formal technical training courses in public ITIs, particularly in accordance with market demand and sensitivity.

?There is also lack of infrastructure for updating and sharpening the skills of existing craftsmen in bamboo-based activities,? Kamesh Salam, director of Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre, said.

The Northeast has abundant bamboo resources with a growing stock of more than 60 million tonnes, two-thirds of the bamboo resource base in India and is 54 per cent of the total world reserve of bamboo.

The deal will also facilitate provision of business development services, financial assistance and technical knowhow for setting up small and micro-enterprises besides replicating successful implementation processes and programmes in other locations.

The NEC has identified bamboo as one of the thrust areas for development of the region and has launched the North East Regional Bamboo Mission aimed at sustainable development of the bamboo sector, promoting poverty alleviation, rapid industrialisation and ushering in of all-round development in the bamboo sector.

The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre, Guwahati, established in 2000 as a joint venture of UNDP, UNIDO and the department of science and technology, is now a registered body under the NEC.