The Bamboo Development and Promotion Organisation (BADPO) and Bamboo Forum of India (BFI) jointly celebrated the World Bamboo Day, 2022 at Gandhi Memorial Hall, Imphal West on Sunday.
Attending as chief guest, Panchayati Raj Minister Yumnam Khemchand said that bamboo is considered a natural product with high utility and many countries have started promoting bamboo products and items because of their eco-friendliness.
Khemchand further said that in countries like China, most of the construction materials are replaced by bamboo. Even clothes made from bamboo fibre are usually chosen as they are popular, he added.
Manipur is amongst the states which have the highest bamboo growth. Promotion of bamboo can really help in generating employment in the state, he added.
An organiser of the function Sukumar Haobam said that World Bamboo Day 2022 is being held with an objective to create awareness of their uses and significance in keeping the environment clean and healthy.
For the first time, World Bamboo Day was celebrated at Prachan Buri, Thailand under World Bamboo Organisation in the year 2009, he said.
In Manipur, being one of the largest bamboo growers in North East India, the celebration was started from 2011, he added. Due to the pandemic, it was not celebrated in the year 2020 and 2021, he mentioned. Nevertheless, it was being observed in the form of discussions online.
He said that in the state of Manipur, the number of bamboo artisan is increasing each day. As such, promotion of bamboo products can be one of the best options for employment generation in the state.
Chairman of Manipur State Minorities Commission and former Mayor of Imphal Municipality Corporation L Lokeshwor Singh also attended as president and guest of honour respectively.
A painting competition was also held at Singjamei Community Hall, Singjamei Imphal West as a part of the programme.
