Bamboo is closely interlinked with tribal life — from the North East to Odisha. A new vocation has developed around this, making bamboo jewellery, which is very popular in urban areas.
When the paper industry ceased to use bamboo as a raw material, it was a big jolt to tribal suppliers. At that time, National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) and NGO the Sparsh Social Foundation (SSF) brainstormed and zeroed in on bamboo jewellery to give a leg-up to tribal livelihood.
In 2020-21, SSF initially persuaded 25 Kondh women in Bada Chandili village of Rayagada, Odisha to begin production. The Maa Santoshi Bamboo Jewellery Producers’ Group (MSBJPG) was formed and began a 15-day preliminary training and subsequent one-and-a-half-month skill upgrade course.
“We pumped in nearly Rs 15 lakh to impart two-phased training to the group,” says SSF general manager Prafulla Dhal. “The first phase included material cost and exposure visits for studying designs of metal ornaments. We also hired a team from Bhubaneswar-based National Institute of Fashion Technology to help develop designs.”
Later, the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) and Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) also joined hands. “We provided a grant of Rs 2.4 lakh and working capital of Rs 1 lakh, at 2% annual interest, to MSBJPG,” says ORMAS deputy CEO Manoj Patra in Rayagada.
The tribals are now adept at their bamboo jewellery craft and sell their creations at the local market as well as the Ekamra Haat, National Art and Crafts Mela, Jeevan Jivika Mela and Adivasi Mela in Bhubaneswar.
“We devote four hours every evening to make nearly 70 designs that fetch over Rs 60,000 every month,” says MSBJPG secretary Kasmita Pedanti. “All our 5,000 rakhis sold off last year, giving us encouragement to further our effort.”
The Maa Santoshi Group keeps 20% of its monthly income to meet material cost and to clear the loan, according to a member, Gupteshwari.
The Rayagada administration has now provided 600 square feet where the women’s group develops its designs.
Now, ITDA will set up a Common Facility Centre under a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra, which seeks to improve tribal incomes through value addition of their products. The centre will produce jewellery, utility and decorative items. “We have submitted a proposal to the Kolnara tehsil administration for allotting 1.5 acres near Bada Chandili for the project,” says ITDA project manager Bidyut Patra of Rayagada.
A plan is in the pipeline to rope in 300 more women to give the craft status of a massive cottage industry. “We have submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Skill Development through the Odisha Skill Development Agency, seeking assistance of Rs 1 crore,” says Dhal of SSF. Clearly, bamboo jewellery is here to stay.
