Letter to PM : Bamboo Regulation in India: The Need for Reforms and Policy Change

Guwahati, 28th May 2014.

To,
Shri Narendrabhai D Modi,
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
Government of India,
7, Race Course Road.
New Delhi-110061

Subject: BAMBOO REGULATION IN INDIA: THE NEED FOR REFORMS and POLICY CHANGE

Dear Respected Prime Minster,

Namaskar, my heartiest congratulation to you on becoming the 15th Prime Minister of India. I hope that under your able guidance and leadership India will achieve its golden era of development and inclusive growth.

As a person who was responsible for preparing the National Bamboo Document for Ministry of Agriculture and Planning Commission of India, I am writing this to express my anguish at the functioning of the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and National Mission on Bamboo Application (NMBA) of Ministry of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology which is mandated to promote bamboo in the country for your immediate attention. Both these Ministries have made a mockery of bamboo development by working in isolation and spending cores of rupees. These need your immediate attention.

The functions of both these institutions including other line ministries in GOI are being managed by non professional from Bamboo Sector making the sector not progressive and non performer and bamboo still remains as an Orphan. Your policy adopted for synergizing various ministries for effective implementation is the need of hour for bamboo sector also.

Bamboo development in India started under the able leadership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpee ji former Prime Minister and also during the tenure of Shri Raj Nath ji as the Agriculture minister by brining the National Bamboo Mission. Way back in 1999 the Government of India under NDA Government, India has started the process of bamboo development making as a mission mode approach and making as an Agriculture crop. Realizing the immense economic potential, the Government of Indian launched the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) as 100% centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture during October 2006 for the holistic development of bamboo with an outlay of Rs. 568.23 Crore during the period 2006-07 to the end of 11th Five Year Plan. The National Bamboo Mission has completed eight years of its existence now with little visibility on ground. The expected benefits of implementation of the Mission includes raising of 1.76 lakh ha area under bamboo plantation over a period of 5 years, employment generation of 50.4 million mandays of work by plantation and 9.7 lakh mandays by raising bamboo nurseries both in public as well as private sector, besides many direct and indirect benefits.

India has 20% of World’s bamboo resources and the North East India has 52% of India’s bamboo resources which is to be proud of. Also Bamboo is a multi-utility fast growing natural resource. Different species of bamboos grow wild in forests and some important species are grown in homesteads also. Bamboo provides the necessities of life to common man besides it bestows upon us many environmental and ecological benefits. However, management of natural bamboo forests received less attention in the past which resulted in heavy exploitation and depletion of the stock and the sites. Farmers traditionally grow few commercially important species without much scientific inputs and improvement on the traditional practice. But in India bamboo it is still a poor man’s timber and an orphan plant with no direction. Today its look after by more than 5 ministry to name viz. Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of S&T, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Commerce, KVIC, MSME and MOEF.etc .Also the status is same in the state Government regarding the legal status of bamboo. It’s an orphan unlike our Competitor China who has mandated bamboo as BIG BROTHER and proper legal status given to Bamboo as a Commodity. Also the success of bamboo “’county model” which is quite commendable in terms of legalizing bamboo as a crop. Today China commands a 7.5 Billion Dollar bamboo business and with India as nil.

Few key issues which need your immediate intervention as are below:
1. Obtaining Forest Permit and Transit Pass for Bamboos: Declaration of bamboo as GRASS not TREE.

In Forestry terminology, Bamboo is defined as “Tree” and “Forest produce” includes the following when found in, or brought from, a forest or not that is to say – timber (includes bamboo), charcoal, skins, horns, etc. Therefore, Bamboo as a Forest Produce is controlled under the prevailing rules and regulations of the Forest Department for its removal from the source of origin to the centre of consumption. There seems to be some genuine problem between the forest officials and growers / extractors with respect to its control on bamboo movement on transit. Since, the entire process is long and cumbersome and transit rules hinder harvest, transportation, conversion and trade of bamboos and its products. The following points deserves due consideration to exempt bamboo from Transit Pass issued by the Forest Department.

Some Bamboo species like Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa tulda, Bambusa assamica, Bambusa bamboos, Bambusa teres, Dendrocalamus gigantus, Phyllostachys bambusoides, etc. are grown by farmers in private land and these species do not normally occur naturally in Forests. There are distinct physical characteristics between the home grown bamboos and naturally occurring bamboos in forests which can distinguish them easily. Therefore, the home grown bamboos may be declared as a Horticulture / Agriculture / Plantation crop and they may be withdrawn from the control of the Forest Department as a Forest Produce and may be brought under the control of another appropriate department, preferably under Panchayati Raj, Horticulture or Agriculture Department. Some of the State Governments have already suggested this proposal in the State Bamboo Policy of their respective States.

In this connection, special mention may be made about “Minor Minerals” which are also otherwise termed as Forest Produce but their control and management have been withdrawn and placed under the Department of Geology and Mine when found in Non- Forest land after due amendment of rules made by the Government. In this connection, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Divisional Forest Officer Vs Mool Chand Jain (AIR 1971 SC 694), it was held that it is doubtful whether ‘Stone’ is a ‘Forest Produce’. Similarly, in another case, Parmeswar Das Vs State of Assam (AIR 1971 Gan 51) and still another case Bejiram Ingty Vs State of Assam (198 GLR 222) ordered that ‘Stone’ is not a ‘Forest Produce’.

It was also held that when Stone is not a Forest Produce, it cannot come within the fold of the term Mahal settled by the Forest Department. On the similar circumstances, the home grown Bamboos also may be withdrawn from the list of Forest Produce and its control by Forest Department may be discontinued. Natural Bamboo occurring in forest areas will, however, continue to be controlled by Forest Department as a Forest produce. Regarding removal of transit pass for Bamboo, the issue has been discussed in the highest level of Apex Committee Meeting of NBM held on 30th September 2008 under the Chairmanship of Shri Sharad Pawar, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, and Government of India. It was informed by Hon’ble Minister, Science and Technology that DST has been taking up the issue for last 4 years. The Hon’ble Minister, Environment and Forest also informed that the issue has been taken up with all the State Governments. NEC has also already initiated the relaxation of the Transit Pass with NE State Governments. However, some of the State Governments have their own reservation about withdrawal of the control on Bamboo from Forest Department since it pays handsome revenue to the State Government and it is a Forest Produce. It is felt necessary to examine the local tax laws and duties that are imposed on Bamboo or Bamboo products by States and consider liberally relaxing the rules and giving concession on taxes and duties for the benefit of growers and artisans involved in this important sector.

2. Need for Effective Regional and State Policies on Bamboo :

So far, 5 States of North east, i.e., Tripura, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland have formulated their own policies on Bamboo as on date. Bamboo Policies of other Eastern States like Jharkhand and few states are also on anvil. Bamboo is the fastest growing and highest yielding renewable natural resource and different species occurs in different parts of the country. Development of Bamboo resource in forest and private areas will greatly add to environment and ecological balance of land and consequently having great impact on the quality of life of people.A planned, scientific and holistic approach to the cultivation and management of Bamboo on sustained basis can be an inexhaustible source of goods and services and can play a significant role in restoration and rejuvenation of rural economy and the overall development of the people. With increasing demand of timber and wood which become a scarce commodity in the world, bamboo can serve as an alternative to many of the forest products. Mass propagation of bamboo by active involvement of people especially in Jhum Cultivation areas in North East is feasible as the technique of growing bamboo is well known to the people.

Bamboo has a symbiotic relationship with the local people and tribals and, therefore, it is important that their participation and involvement is ensured and maximized with full protection of rights and conclusions and they do not feel alienated from the Government initiatives on bamboo as they are the main beneficiary.

The above issues find their place in the current National Forest Policy as well as Five Year Plan of the Central Government and, therefore, we can expect positive development in the form of distinct economic contribution from bamboo resources in coming years. The recent trend of formulation of State Policies on Bamboo by NE States is an encouraging sign and would surely go a long way in ensuring gainful utilization of their economic potential and, thereby, contribute to economic upliftment and empowerment of local people and tribal population.

3. Need for integrated policy framework for promoting bamboo as commodity:

There is an urgent need for integrating the activities of various departments with respect to Bamboo and Cane including Forestry, Agriculture, Handicrafts, Industry, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, MSEME, etc., if any integrated policy framework has to succeed for the sector. A first step in this direction is to get all the stakeholders on to a common platform to thrash out various issues. Today all the ministries are working without any co ordination making bamboo development difficult. Because of faulty policy by Ministry of Commerce today India imports Bamboo Sticks (Agarbatti sticks) from Vietnam and China about 250 trucks via Chennai Port to feed the Agarbatii Industry in South India. There are about 10,000 agarbatti manufacturing units in the country including tiny, small and medium, besides another 200 well-established ones having over 50 branded agarbattis. Nearly 12 lakh people are directly or indirectly employed by the industry. Of the total agarbatti market of Rs 1,100 crore, size of the organised market is about 40 per cent of the total market. About 2 Billion sticks are burnt in a day. The State of Tripura and the states of North East India is fulfilling 90% of raw sticks market demand in India. The sticks are producing at household level manually at community level. The Union government’s budget to reduce the import duty from 30% to 10% will hit artisans of North East hard as it will enable to import cheap bamboo sticks from Vietnam and China which will lakhs of families’ jobless. As such this should be immediately withdrawn and increase to import duty to 50%.

4. Setting up of a “National Bamboo Development Board” under MSME Ministry :

Keeping in mind the immense potential of Bamboo for economic development of the people and ecological security of land, it may be worthwhile to suggest that a “Bamboo Board” may be constituted in line with other Boards like Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Jute, Coconut (Coir), Spices Board by upgrading the present National Bamboo Mission into a full-fledged Board into a “National Bamboo Development Board” like Coconut, Honey Bee, Livestock, Fishery Development Board, Agriculture and processed Food products Development Authority ,National Horticulture Board etc under the Ministry of Agriculture and Coop, and bring all the activities and different stakeholders under one umbrella. The success of “AMUL Model” may be introduced in bamboo sector development so that the farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs can benefit to the maximum both by the planters and processors.

5. Policy on Import Duty on Capital Goods:

Since Bamboo is an upcoming sector, some of the primary and secondary processing machines have not yet been fully developed indigenously, thus forcing the entrepreneurs to import them and their accessories. Import duties make the landed cost at the Project site very high. On the other hand, if the Machinery is imported under EPCG (Export Promotion Capital Goods) Scheme, about 5% Import Duty has to be paid with the obligation to import 8 times of the duty saved in a time span of 7-8 yrs. This is also difficult at this initial crucial stage. Bamboo Processing Machinery may, therefore, be exempted from Import Duty for a period of 10 yrs. Likewise, under EPCG Scheme; there should be no Export Obligation for ten years.

6. Bamboo a potential environmental friendly material for housing and construction Fast growing nature of bamboo to provide sustainable supply to meet the demands of the building industry and many positive aspects of modern engineering materials found in bamboo has renewed interest of engineers and architects to use bamboo as an engineering material. Some of the advantages of bamboo are: High tensile strength compared to that of mild steel – can be used for reinforcement in place of mild steel; High strength to weight ratio and high specific load bearing capacity; Requires less energy for production compared to material like steel, plastics, aluminum etc.; Physical-mechanical properties of bamboo which grows to maturity in 4 to 5 years compares favorably with that of hardwood which requires 40 to 50 years to attain maturity; Service life of bamboo can be enhanced considerably by providing suitable preservative treatment; Studies as in China, India has further established its versatility to be converted into panel and composite material possessing enhanced strength properties suitable for structural applications; Like wood bamboo also possesses high residual strength to absorb shocks and impacts–this makes it highly suitable material for construction of houses to resist seismic and high wind forces; Bamboo along with fast grown plantation species is very efficient in sequestering carbon and contributes to the reduction of green house effect.

Since times immemorial, the general trend of practicing in bamboo construction has been traditional; beyond that, much change and development could not evolve to a large extend. Moreover now, due to the advent of new building materials and industrialization, bamboo has become the least used material amongst the rural and local people.

Beyond the above facts, bamboo has also to offer other advantages as a building material. Bamboo as a material is very light and has a high tensile strength for which the construction with bamboo is much relevant in the areas falling under earth quake zones like North-East India. Also, with the advent of new technology Bamboo has become an alternative material to wood thereby substituting the rapidly depleting wood resources. Altogether, Bamboo is not merely a material for construction but also sustains the local economy in the process, balances our environment and generates local employment. In India bamboo housing and constructions are not applicable to Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) houses of Rural Development, CPWD &PWD building codes. There is a huge prospect for bamboo housing in Eco Tourism, disaster relief housing, community buildings, rural sanitation related issues, low cost toilets etc. There is also need to have a similar Institute on bamboo building like National Rural Roads Development Authority (NRRDA) for making rural roads under PMGSY schemes of Ministry of Rural Development to take up bamboo housing in uniform manner.

7. Skill and capacity building and Entrepreneurship :

There is need for create institutional mechanism for providing certified courses on bamboo technology, trade and capacity building related issues. National level technical and grassroots institutes like Agriculture Universities , ICAR Institutes, ICFRE Institutes , IIT, NIT, ITI , Technical and informal colleges and schools should introduce bamboo related basic and advance courses on bamboo trade and technology. Also National Skill Development Council (NCDC) should take up bamboo skill development on Mission Mode targeting youths particularly the surrendered militants and misguided youth to bring them to the main stream by harnessing bamboo as economic tool for gainful employment generation.

With your blessings and support, by learning from your governances and best practices in making “Gujarat Model” as success model as “Development Mantra” in India , I do hope that the “Vibrant Gujarat and AMUL Model” can be infused to make bamboo development a reality in India where China is currently leading the world market of 7.5 Billon Dollar Market. This will help India to be a model of the world as bamboo is a key plant in today’s world as the fastest growing grass on earth.

I look forward to getting your support and response on the few issues stated above from your end and also from and your dynamic team of dedicated ministers in your cabinet to harnessing the potential of this miracle plant called “Bamboo” in India’s development agenda.

With warm personal regards,
(Kamesh Salam)
Founder and Executive Director,
South Asia Bamboo Foundation, (SABF) and Expert Member Apex Committee of National
Bamboo Mission (NBM), Ministry of Agriculture and Coop, Government of India.(Former)
Advisory Member of FICCI – North East Council
Chairman - FICCI’s Skill Committee in North East India.
Former President, World Bamboo Organization (WBO).
Founder: Bamboo Global Summit and World Bamboo day.
www.worldbamboo.net, www.bamboosummit.com, www.worldbambooday.org.

With best compliments to:
1. Shri. Radha Mohon Singh,
Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture
Government of India,
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
2. Shri Gopinath Munde,
Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj , Drinking water and
Sanitation, Government of India,
New Delhi.
3. Shri Kalraj Mishra
Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Government of India.
New Delhi.
4. Shri Prakash Javedkar,
Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent) for Environment, Forest and Climate
Change,Government of India.
Parivavan Bhawan, Lodhi Complex
New Delhi
5. Gen. V.K. Singh
Hon’ble Minster of State (Independent) for Development of North East Region
Government of India.
New Delhi.
6. Shri Sarbanda Sonowal,
Minister of State (Independent) for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and YAS,
Government of India.
New Delhi.
7. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman,
Minister of State (Independent) for Commerce & Industry.
Government of India.
New Delhi
8. Dr. Jitendra Singh,
Minister of State (Independent) for Science and Technology, Earth Science,
Government of India.
New Delhi.
9. Shri Kiren Rijiju,
Minister of State for Home,
Government of India.
New Delhi.