Sept. 20: The Industrial Training Institute (ITI), at Dauliguri in Kokrajhar, is introducing a course on bamboo technology from this academic session.

Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) executive member M. Basumatary, who looks after the agriculture, weigh and measures department, said, “We are happy to announce that the North Eastern Council (NEC) has decided to introduce a course on bamboo technology at the Kokrajhar ITI. NEC has also expressed its willingness to set up a common facility centre at Udalguri for processing bamboo, which we have accepted.”

In a letter to the Bodo council, NEC member P.P. Shrivastav said the council has decided to introduce the course at Kokrajhar ITI, which will then be developed as a centre of excellence by the ministry of labour. The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre will provide the technical knowhow.

The centre will organise and facilitate the supply of 500 to 1,000 kg of round-edged, carbonised, bleached and polished bamboo strips and sticks. “These would serve as samples for weaving bamboo blinds and curtains. Bamboo cottages, designed innovatively, would be made available to the BTC to attract tourists. The financial arrangement would be worked out subsequently,” the letter said.

The council has suggested that processed bamboo be made popular among the people of the region for building houses, which can be designed by youths trained in bamboo technology.

“All government buildings in villages such as schools, public health engineering and panchayat housing may be made out of processed bamboo. Local youths would process the raw bamboo,” the letter suggested.

“Bamboo industry is one of the potential sectors for revenue and employment generation in the Bodo belt. There is abundant growth of bamboo in the forest of Bodoland. All we need is to make good use of it so that we can generate employment and revenue. We have already started the bamboo project and set a target of bamboo cultivation in over 10,000 hectares in the region,” BTC deputy chief Kampha Borgoyari said.

The BTC, with the co-operation of National Mission of Bamboo Application, have launched an initiative to set up a bamboo shoot processing and charcoal and briquette units. A weaving unit, prefabricated structure and a moulded product unit are also on the list. The Bodoland Bamboo Development Agency has been set up to co-ordinate the activities of the entrepreneurs and the National Mission of Bamboo Application.

The ITI was established in 1987 and has 15 departments, including one on cane and bamboo. In all, 96 students will be admitted to the cane and bamboo trade course.