BAIHATA CHARIALI, April 27 - The bamboo artisans of Baredala village under Bihdia Jajikona Development Block of Kamrup district have sought extensive training on bamboo products from the government to uplift their existing bamboo products industry.
The artisans here have been engaged in making bamboo basketry for poultry transportation for a couple of years and thereby they have been earning a livelihood. Kanak Deka, secretary of Baredala Hasta Silpa Co-operative Society Limited (BHSCSL), and a young artisan of the industry recalled, earlier, the people of the area were very poor. Due to lack of income generating sources, the people of the area went to private factories for seeking jobs, but a group of mentally strong and energetic persons began the bamboo basketry industry and supplied to different hatcheries.
During the preliminary stage, the artisans were not technically qualified, but in June 2018, the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) of Byrnihat organised a 15-day training for which the artisans were highly benefited and able to earn their livelihood through selling of bamboo products. Today the artisans fabricate bamboo broom and some other products, besides bamboo basketry.
It is worth mentioning here that the bamboo brooms have been able to capture markets in different places of the state. A number of agencies, including municipal offices, medical and railway staff have purchased the bamboo brooms for their superior quality. Though the society has been working for the uplift of this economically backward area, the society has been facing acute shortage of storage space since long.
Now the artisans have urged the government to provide the required funds to construct a godown, besides organising government-sponsored extensive training programmes for uplift of the industry so that the people of the area may be self-employed through the cottage industry.
