PUNE: Centres like Bamboo Handicraft and Art Unit (BHAU) will be able to generate employment. And by establishing such centres, universities should become job-creators in the society, said Governor of Maharashtra and Chancellor of State universities, C Vidyasagar Rao during the inauguration of BHAU centre at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), on Friday.
Along with SPPU, Rao also digitally inaugurated the centres at Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University and Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri.
“I appreciate that the three vice-chancellors of said three universities managed to build the BHAU within five months of proposal given by me and State finance minister. These universities should take the opportunity of creating employment through these centres for students as well as enrich the tribal communities. The three centres should also closely work with the bamboo organisations in Melghat and other regions which extensively work in bamboo-based manufacturing in the State,” said Rao.
State Minister of Finance and Planning and Forests, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Guardian Minister of Pune District Girish Bapat, Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of SPPU Nitin Karmalkar, VC of Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University Muralidhar Chandekar, VC of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), KP Vishwanatha, Secretary of State Forest Department, (IAS) Vikas Kharge, Secretary of Governor Venugopal Reddy (IAS), Minister of State for Social Justice and Special Assistance, Relief and Rehabilitation, Minorities Development and State Excise, Dilip Kamble, Pro-VC of SPPU, NS Umarani, Registrar In-charge, Prafulla Pawar were present among other eminent personalities of varsity.
“There are many things which can be manufactured from bamboo starting from rakhi to clothes, stationery and many more. A simple product like a rakhi can become a source of income for lakhs in the State. Moreover, these manufactured products should be sold on various e-commerce sites and try to reach international market as well. Like once we purchased several goods from China and other countries, they should purchase it from Maharashtra,” added Rao.
BHAU will consist of a batch of 20 students of university. The centre will carry out training and research work of bamboo and its quality. The learn and earn module for the centre has been designed by Bamboo Research and Training Centre (BRTC), Chandrapur. All three VCs have exchanged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Director of BRTC Rahul Patil.
“These centres will become a platform for entrepreneurship and skill development in universities. With the designed course structure, we are hopeful that varsity will be able in generating employment as well as create entrepreneurs,” said Karmalkar. District Planning Development Corporation (DPDC) and Bamboo Board together have given a fund of amount Rs 3-3.5 crore for this initiative, informed Mugantiwar.
“Endless products can be manufactured from it. Earlier, we would purchase ‘scented sticks’ (agarbattis) from China and toothpick from Taiwan, now these materials can be produced from Bamboo by us,” said Mugantiwar.
“Maharashtra is one of its kind states which has identified ‘bamboo’ as a grass family and not timber (as categorised earlier). We have been able to reach bamboo from forest areas to the lives of people. And by establishing such centres, it will become a medium to source income for many,” said Kharge.
