To promote the local forests, National Bamboo Mission has been started wherein workshops for several bamboo artists are being organised.
As many as 383 families are dependent on the profession of bamboo.
Forest officials stated that the administration is training 100 artists about the developed bamboo designs in collaboration with Tripura Bamboo Mission in a two-month workshop.
Meanwhile, 142 traditional artists are being trained in the 21 Processing Centres across the State. Among the list of Processing Centres, two are established in Bijapur. likewise, two centres are functional in different parts of Raipur and one in Bastar and Dhantewada districts respectively.
Since 2008, the artisans of bamboo making have participated in 25 regional and national fairs. An income of Rs19 lakh is earned through the sales.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board has targetted to train 1500 bamboo craftsmen this year.
The Board is operating three special projects for development and upliftment of bamboo craftsmen in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
The Central Government has sanctioned financial aid of Rs4.20 crore lakh in fiscal year 2012-13 for the projects.
In the review meeting recently chaired by State Village Industries Minister Punnulal Mohle at the Mantralaya in Naya Raipur, the Board officials had informed that Special Bamboo Art Project has been initiated in Mohla-Manpur of Rajnandgaon district, Beltara of Bilaspur district, and Gariaband District Headquarters, wherein equipment, workshop building, warehouses, Haat and rooms for craftsmen have been constructed with the financial aid sanctioned by Central Government.
Notably in March this year, the handicraft makers in insurgency infested Bastar region were also trained on how to market their products.
The initiative had been taken by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board, officials stated Recently, atleast 60 artisans from various districts of Bastar division participated in a two-day workshop on Marketing organised by Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board.
The artisans were from Jagdalpur, Parchanpaan, Kondagaon, Chilkuti, Deurgaon, who took part in the workshop.
During the workshop, the artisans were told about where to sell their products and from where they could source the raw material for making the handicraft.
The workshop was organised by the Office of Commissioner, Chhattisgarh Handicraft Development Board.