The Government of India has several policies to support the bamboo sector in India. These policies include promoting bamboo plantation, strengthening bamboo based handicrafts, and developing bamboo based technology applications.

National Bamboo Mission

The ministry of agriculture, Government of India has launched the National Bamboo Mission with 100% central assistance with a total budget of Rs 568 Crores for a duration of 5 years (Last year of 10th plan and first four years of 11th Plan). The mission targets 176,000 hectares of fresh plantation with 88,000 hectares each in forest and non-forest areas.

It is projected that over 35 million man days of employment will be generated through plantation activities. Once the non-forest areas plantations are established, the employment potential is projected to touch 60 million man days from bamboo plantation alone. Assuming an average of 300 man-days of employment per person in a year, this will translate into employment opportunities for 2 lakh persons. More importantly, the entire employment generation will be in rural areas largely benefiting the tribal and the poorest of the poor population in the country.

National Mission on Bamboo Applications

It is an important initiative of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India launched under the 10th plan. NMBA has developed and commercialized technology and applications in the segments of developing bamboo based wood substitutes, conversion of closed plywood units to bamboo ply, bamboo based gasification for thermal application and power generation, bamboo based charcoal, development of pre-fabricated bamboo based housing structures and other technological applications of bamboo.

Development Commissioner (Handicrafts)

The DC (Handicrafts) under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India has several programs to strengthen bamboo based handicrafts in the north eastern region. The programs focus on an integrated development of the bamboo artisans on a cluster based approach. The various schemes of DC (Handicrafts) include Creation of raw material banks, setting up of common facility centres, establishment of resource centre for bamboo crafts, design/development, skill training, marketing support and addressing the social security needs.