Agartala, Oct 9(TIWN): The NEC (North Eastern Council) of India sanctioned Rs 7.5 crore for developing the incense stick sector in Tripura, Industry Minister, and Jitendra Chaudhury informed. Talking to reporters at civil secretariat here on Wednesday the minister said that poor stick makers of Tripura are now facing challenges from China and Vietnam.

Official records here suggest that over three lakh people in the state especially in Dhalai and North Tripura districts were dependent on making incense sticks from bamboo. 

  He said that earlier the Bangalore-based incense stick-making industries were mostly dependent on bamboo sticks supplied from Tripura. Mr. Chaudhury informed that presently, the biggest threat to these stick makers is the quality and cheap rate provided by Myanmar. Moreover, China and Vietnam are also providing good quality incense sticks due to which the local manufacturers are losing ground, he stated.

     The minister informed that a review meeting was held to discuss the future five year plan of Tripura Bamboo Mission. Speaking about the objective of the meeting Mr. Chaudhury said ‘”It was decided to scale up the turnover of the local sector from Rs116 crore to Rs 200 crore within the 5 years project duration. Double livelihood involvement in the bamboo sector in the state”        

    The Tripura Bamboo Mission is Initiative of the Government of Tripura to develop the bamboo sector in the state in a holistic manner. It aims to optimize the end-to-end value chain spanning from plantation& resource generation to marketing of value added finished products. The mission has a sub sector specific focus that includes handicrafts, furniture, incense, sticks & blinds, mat and industrial application of bamboo. The project is being implemented by IL&FS CDI based on a Public Private Partnership Framework.