Editor,
In 2020 when scientists and experts on bamboo had visited the State and met officials related to the State Bamboo Mission, the overall summary that came out from the meeting was that the State would start to adopt new learning and incorporate models on bamboo propagations through community managed bamboo communities.
In my report, when I was with Meghalaya Institute of Governance under the flagship of MBDA, I had suggested that the Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana – Gramin could be “modified” at the State level by making the maximum utilisation of bamboo houses for the rural poor who had limited means of building a house of their own. This would require mapping of bamboo clusters for nurturing bamboo nurseries and supplying top bamboo wood quality under the scheme which would be economically viable, sustainable and affordable and also linked under the rural housing subsidy of 35 per cent.
Through affordable bamboo housing we help in mitigating natural calamities, promote direct and indirect employment services, sustaining the ecosystem and preventing wastage of bamboo outside the State. However, nothing much has been heard since my exit from but it is hoped that a secondary opinion and discussion could be initiated under a revised mission mode. Readers could get in touch with me on this subject.
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Resource Expert
dwankhar78@gmail.com
