Agartala, September 12, 2025: In a significant step towards promoting self-reliance among rural artisans, the NB Institute for Rural Technology (NBIRT), popularly known as Shilpabandhu Arkaneer, organized a special awareness camp focused on marketing strategies for bamboo artisans. For over 32 years, NBIRT has been at the forefront of empowering educated youth and women from various self-help groups by providing hands-on training and continuous support to help them establish small and medium-sized enterprises.

Under the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology’s Seed Department initiative, NBIRT launched the ‘Sunil Project’ aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of bamboo artisans by transitioning them from traditional methods to modern technology. As part of this initiative, 30 women from Charilam in Sepahijla district received practical training in bamboo jewellery making along with small tool kits to begin their businesses. Today, around 10 to 12 of these women have successfully established regular businesses, earning a sustainable income and inspiring more women in the region to join the trade.

On September 8, the awareness camp was held at Arkaneer, Sekerkote, where the Swapna-Lakshmi-Pragya Swa Sahayak Group along with local bamboo jewellery producers participated. Key speakers included Dr. Richik Ghosh Thakur, Principal Investigator of the Sunil Project, Co-PI Kapil Baran Bhowmik, and other officials. The sessions emphasized critical topics such as marketing techniques, packaging, branding, digital and offline sales strategies, and improving product quality to attract wider consumer interest.

The event also featured an exhibition showcasing diverse products created by artisans, including bamboo jewellery, torch lights, lamp shades, and spotlights crafted using bamboo, beads and threads at the organization’s Common Facility Center (CFC). A total of 22 bamboo artisans participated in the camp, sharing their business models and future plans to further strengthen their enterprises.