Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 19: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will collaborate in ensuring maximum participation of North Eastern States in, possibly the first of its kind, three-day “Global Bamboo Summit” scheduled to be held at Indore from 7th to 9th of next month.
Presiding over a meeting held here to finalise programme and arrangements for the proposed summit, Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the initiative taken by social activists led by Sanjay Ganjoo and particularly the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan for having agreed to organise the international summit which is bound to result in long term benefits for country’s economy, particularly the Northeast.
It is an irony, said Dr. Jitendra Singh, that vast reserves of bamboo available in the country and its potential uses are not known to most of people in the country. While Madhya Pradesh has vast bamboo reserves, in North-East particularly, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur are rich in bamboo which is either unutilised or underutilised, he added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the applications of bamboo are not only limited to agriculture or horticulture but also extend to making of furniture and paper factories. If provided the right kind of opportunity, bamboo will not only be a source of income but it will be also contribute to “Make in India” mission and give States like Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, the unique identity of being known as “Bamboo States” of India.
Naveen Verma Secretary DoNER, Delhi based Resident Commissioners of North Eastern States, officers of NITI Aayog and Ministry of Agriculture also attended the meeting.