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IIT project on bamboo furniture designing for use at health centres

By PRANJAL BHUYAN

GUWAHATI, June 3 - The Department of Design of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, has carried out a project involving designing of bamboo furniture for use in hospitals and health centres.

The project is mainly aimed at strengthening sustainable infrastructure facilities and meeting the requirements of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) located in the rural areas of the State.

�The project aimed for a sustainable and participatory design approach by utilisation of locally available materials and craft skill manpower led by active participation of local government departments. The current pandemic crisis has brought to the fore the need for seeking self-reliance of sustainable solutions that are contextually appropriate for meeting the needs of the community,� said an official of IIT Guwahati.

He said that the designs developed by the department�s team could provide a sustainable solution to meet local infrastructure needs of PHCs and added that they are also cost-effective.

�Besides, it could also be an ideal way of creating employment opportunities for crafts persons who can use locally available bamboo and cane in this region. Besides, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the bamboo furniture range could also help in meeting the high demand of such things for use by patients admitted for treatment,� said the official.

The IIT Guwahati is looking to share the designs with the medical colleges in the State.

�The design team is already in touch with two local entrepreneurs who have agreed to undertake the manufacture of a simpler version of the hospital bed. Around 200 beds can be manufactured per day,� said the official.

He added that bamboo craft forms an important economic driver in the North East region.

�However, though the craft is so prevalent in this region, its effective utilisation for public community facilities like health centres in rural areas has been limited. Our institute�s project has demonstrated the potential. During the ongoing pandemic situation there is urgency for improving the basic infrastructure facilities in the primary healthcare centres. As such, the designs developed by our institute offer scope for collaboration amongst the various stakeholders for improvement of the health sector,� he said.

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