Bamboo logic can be given a new dimension by recognising its socio-economic and ecological value, industrial and commercial value and its importance in climate change strategies. Its use as an effective tool in arresting land degradation and as a carbon sink also needs to be explored.

Bamboo is a species that, when utilized to its full potential, can transform our lives so much that every nation must have its own “National Bamboo Policy” aiming to fight a number of global problems.

Almost in every budget, there is a scheme mania as if without announcing these schemes, India will not develop. No one bothers to ask what happens to schemes such as the Technology Mission on Cotton, the National Bamboo Mission and a host of other white elephants.

One of the most significant criticisms of the Governmental decision on Bamboo has come from Kamlesh Salam, a former Member of the Apex Committee of the National Bamboo Mission. He says that the present initiative of declaring bamboo as a non-timber product in non-forest areas will not help much in the northeastern states.

Sometime back in 2008, a Chinese delegation visited to take a first-hand assessment of the Bamboo scenario in Assam. Thereafter, the Chinese went to attend the national seminar in New Delhi and sharpened their knowledge further. Nothing worthwhile came to India thereafter, and the Assam Dream of riding the Chinese dragon remained a distant dream!

Modi government’s efforts to revitalise the bamboo trade do not address the issue of bamboo waste and its commercial utilisation, which is the key to ​its success.