On Earth Day 2022, we present the inspiring story of how a small state in India’s northeasternmost corner is making an eco-friendly fashion statement by promoting the use of bamboo jewellery. Bamboo is not only easily available in these parts but is also environment friendly. And bamboo jewellery is also becoming a means of gainful employment for the local people here.
The initiative has come from the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, where the authorities are promoting bamboo jewellery to make use of the easily available locally bamboo resource and encourage people to opt for the eco-friendly jewellery. At the same time, this step is opening employment avenues for the people residing in the fringe areas of the sanctuary.
With all these positives in mind, the Kamlang Tiger Reserve has started a one-month bamboo jewellery and handicraft making workshop to further encourage the communities residing around the protected area to become environment friendly and generate local revenue.
In an exclusive interview to Indian Masterminds, Ms. Cheshta Singh, IFS, who is DFO, Kamlang Tiger Reserve, shared details about the bamboo jewellery and handicraft making workshop.
GREEN SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Green skill development programme is undertaken by the Government of India which endeavours to develop green skilled workers having technical knowledge and commitment to sustainable development, which will help in the attainment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs), as well as Waste Management Rules (2016).
It is under this programme that Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary Division started the one-month skill development workshop on bamboo jewellery and handicraft making.
“We are focusing on communities residing near areas which are close to the protected area of Kamlang Tiger Reserve. We are trying to bring skill development amongst those communities. Since bamboo is an integral part of the Northeast and is easily available here, we are focusing on this eco-friendly resource and promoting its usage.”
BAMBOO JEWELLERY WORKSHOP
The workshop started in the first week of April and is already garnering a lot of interest. “Bamboo jewellery is a very new concept. We heard about it in Assam and some places near Kolkata. So, we thought that since Arunachal Pradesh also has such a huge resource of bamboo, why not call some of the trainers to conduct a workshop here for the people residing around these protected areas,” Ms. Singh said.
The officer has mainly tried to engage women who are living around this specific area. Around 20-25 women are currently participating in the workshop.
“We are mainly focusing on bamboo jewellery designs which are in fashion and people can connect to,” she said.
FUTURE PLANS
Ms. Singh also shared the plan they have in mind for the participants in the workshop. An Eco-Development Committee (EDC) will be formed, especially taking all the highly enthusiastic participants in it. EDC is very similar to the concept of Self-Help Group (SHG). In this case, it is called EDC because it is very close to the protected area in Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We will make an EDC and these people can register themselves as a part of the government and, also, as a SHG. We will try to help them by providing them the facility to start a shop where they can display and sell bamboo jewellery and handicrafts, Ms. Singh said.
Happy with the response the workshop on bamboo jewellery is receiving, she further said, “Some very good products are coming out and we are posting these on social media so that they get good exposure and there is a higher demand for bamboo jewellery.”
BAMBOO DUSTBINS
Not only jewellery, Kamlang Tiger Reserve is also promoting environment-friendly bamboo dustbins to curb the usage of plastic. “As far as plastic is concerned, we are very strict in the case of tourists, too. They are not allowed to carry plastic inside the sanctuary,” Ms. Singh said.
It is indeed commendable that a wildlife sanctuary is not just limiting itself to protecting wildlife, but is also actively engaging itself in protecting the environment as a whole by promoting the usage of eco-friendly products and strictly banning the use of plastic altogether.
