Forest range officer D. Shankar told Deccan Chronicle that under the DFO’s directive, 20 hectares of forest land with abundant bamboo growth have been identified for the project.
WARANGAL: In a bid to curb illegal bamboo cutting from forest reserves and empower rural communities, Mulugu district forest officer Rahul Kishan Jadhav has launched a unique bamboo craft training initiative.
Instead of taking punitive action against those involved in illicit bamboo harvesting, the forest department is now offering free training to locals skilled in traditional crafts. Trainees are taught to convert raw bamboo into marketable decorative items. The department is also supplying raw materials and meals at no cost.
Forest range officer D. Shankar told Deccan Chronicle that under the DFO’s directive, 20 hectares of forest land with abundant bamboo growth have been identified for the project.
A 20-day training session was held at the forest department campus in Mulugu district headquarters for 30 participants. Expert craftsmen from Madhya Pradesh, Gagan Dhedeshwar and Gagan Daiheril, led the programme.
The trainees learned to craft 108 bamboo products, including decorative bullock carts, peacocks, bird nests, trays, boats, pen stands, mobile holders and flower pieces. The aesthetically crafted items have already begun drawing attention.
During the recent visit of Miss World contestants to the historic Ramappa temple, they were presented with bamboo items made by our trainees. They were amazed and even requested more items,” Shankar said.
Moluguri Poojitha, a trainee with a BSc and BEd degrees, said the training had opened a new path for her. “Though I couldn’t get a job earlier, I now enjoy creating bamboo items and expressing my creativity,” she shared.
Another trainee, Shanigarapu Harika from the Medara community, said her family has a long tradition of bamboo craftsmanship. “Earlier, we made only household items. This training gave us the confidence to try decorative pieces. We’ve already begun getting orders,” she said.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle, DFO Rahul Kishan Jadhav said the goal is to generate rural employment and the department is seeking state-level support to boost sales. During a recent visit by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, panchayat raj minister Seethakka presented the handcrafted items, which drew positive feedback, he explained.
“We are planning to host a state-level exhibition in Hyderabad to showcase the work of rural youth. Discussions are also underway with e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart to widen market access,” the DFO added.
