Agartala, April 27: Bamboo artisan Bijay Sutradhar from Gomati district expressed immense pride after being recognised by Narendra Modi during the 133rd episode of Mann Ki Baat.
Reacting to the mention, Sutradhar said the recognition marked a significant personal milestone after 25 years of work in bamboo craftsmanship. He noted that the Prime Minister’s appreciation brought happiness not only to him but also to his village community. He also credited the Tripura Bamboo Mission for supporting his journey, particularly in helping him establish his production unit.
Similarly, Pradeep Chakraborty from South Tripura described the acknowledgement as a moment of pride, stating that he received widespread appreciation from friends and relatives following the broadcast.
Chakraborty highlighted the growth of his enterprise under the Tripura Bamboo Mission, which has been operating in a public-private partnership model since 2007. He said the initiative has enabled employment generation, with 15 to 20 women working at his unit and earning up to Rs 7,000 per month. The enterprise produces a range of bamboo-based items, including bags, jewellery boxes and photo frames, with output reaching up to 200 products.
In his address, the Prime Minister linked such success stories to policy reforms introduced in 2017, which removed bamboo from the category of trees under earlier regulations. The move, he said, helped unlock the sector’s potential, encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and livelihood generation across the Northeast.
The recognition has further motivated the artisans to expand their operations, reflecting the growing role of bamboo-based industries in regional economic development.
