ABOUT BAMBOO DEVELOPMENT AGENCY - MIZORAM

Memorandum of Association

The name of the Society shall be ‘Bamboo Development Agency, Mizoram’  to be called hereinafter as ‘Agency’.

• The Agency will have its registered  office at Aizawl, Mizoram, and its address shall be Khatla, Aizawl, Mizoram.

• Its area of operation shall be throughout Mizoram.

The main objective of the Agency is to encourage, start, organize,  carry on, assist, lease, develop and regulate resources, plantation, utilization, research and development of bamboo and perform such functions as the Government may prescribe from time to time.

Without prejudice to the General Objects above, the objectives, in particular, of the Agency wil be:

• To obtain fund, assistance, grant, contributions and loans towards development of bamboo and bamboo utilization.

• Disburse grant, assistance, loan, advances to individuals, group, firms or organization having object similar to that of the Agency.    

• To start, encourage, assist, lease, carry on and venture jointly bamboo based industries and to carry on trade or business in such industries and bamboo based activities and in the matters incidental to such trade or business;

• To encourage, assist and undertake bamboo based trade or business or profession or work for allround economic upliftment of the people and to encourage such actions for discontinuation of ‘Jhum System of Cultivation’.  

• To encourage, assist and undertake scientific management of natural bamboo resources for economic upliftment of the people and for protection environment and ecology.

• To encourage, assist and undertake plantation of suitable variety of bamboo genera and species for degraded and non-forest areas.

• To undertake any work, programme and function in bamboo sector development and related fields. 

• To collaborate with any other institutions / organizations / persons having objects wholly or partly similar to that of the Agency.

• To help the people by way of training, quality control,         standardization, assistance, scientific and technical support, market support, publicity, education, incentives and patronizing in bamboo related activities.

• To manufacture machinery, tools and implements required for bamboo based industries, to arrange for supply of raw materials, tools and implements for the same purpose, and to sell and to arrange for sale bamboo and bamboo based products.

• To acquire patent or license relating to any inventions, improvements or designs.

• To undertake and encourage research, development and application work in bamboo sector development and bamboo utilization.  

• To discharge such other duties and to perform such other functions as the Government may direct for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the Agency.

First Members of the Agency :  

The first members of the Agency shall be as follows, namely-  

and any such persons outside the Government, as the Government of Mizoram may determine and nominate.

• The income and property of the Agency shall be applied towards the promotion of the objectives as set forth in this Memorandum of Association subject to conditions stipulated for grants made by the Government of Mizoram from time to time. No portion of the income and property of the Agency shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividends, bonus or otherwise, howsoever, by way of  profits to the persons who may at any time be or have been members of the Agency or to any persons claiming through them, provided that nothing therein contained shall prevent in good faith any payment of remuneration in return for any service rendered to the Society.  

• If, on the winding up or dissolution of the Agency, there remains,  after the satisfaction of its liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to, or distributed amongst the members of the Agency or any of them but shall be dealt with in such a manner as the Government of Mizoram, Industry Department, may determine.  

• There shall be a General Body, an Executive Committee and such other functionaries as may be prescribed by rules of the Agency  

• All residuary matters including conduct of business of the Agency shall be provided in the rules of the Agency.

• The Agency may, by a special resolution passed by a majority of not less than three – fifths of the total membership of the Agency, alter its memorandum of association.

• Provided that no such alteration of the memorandum of association shall take effect until it is sanctioned by the Registrar of Firms and Societies, Mizoram, who shall, before granting such sanction, satisfy himself that the alteration is not such as would have the effect of making the Agency ineligible for registration under the Societies Registration Act,1860 (21 of 1860) as extended to Mizoram.

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Rules of Bamboo Development Agency

Short title: These rules may be called the Rules of the Bamboo Development Agency, Mizoram. 

Definitions and Interpretations:

The following expressions shall have its meaning as below, unless the context otherwise requires “Agency” shall mean Bamboo Development Agency;

• “Chairman” shall mean Chairman of the General Body of the  Agency referred to in these Rules;

• “Executive Chairman” shall mean Chairman of the Executive Committee;  

•   “Executive Committee” means Executive Committee of the Agency referred to in these Rules;  

• “General Body” shall mean the body constituted under these Rules;

• “Secretary- General” shall mean Secretary of the General Body of the Agency referred to in these Rules;  

•  “Secretary “ shall mean Secretary of the Executive Committee;
•  “State Government” means Government of Mizoram;  

• “Vice Chairman” shall mean Vice - Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Agency referred to in these Rules.  

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Members of the Society:  

The Agency shall consist of the following members-  

• First Members of the Agency as specified in the memorandum of    association of the Agency, and  

• Members nominated by the State Government.

The Agency may admit further members subject to the approval of the General Body.   

• When a person is nominated as member of the Agency by virtue of an office held by him, his membership of  the Agency shall terminate when he ceases to hold that office and the vacancy so caused shall be filled by his successor to that office. 

• Whenever a member desires to resign from the membership of the Agency, he shall address his resignation to the Secretary - General and submit the same to him. His resignation shall take effect only on its acceptance by the Chairman.

• Any vacancies in the membership of the Agency, either by resignation or otherwise, may be filled up by the General Body subject to approval of the State Government. 

• The Agency shall function notwithstanding that any person entitled to be a member by reason of his office is not represented on the Agency for the time being. Proceedings of the Agency shall not be invalidated by the above reason or by reason of any vacancy or defect in nomination of any of the members. 

• If a member of the Agency by virtue of the office held by him becomes unable to attend any meeting of the Agency, a substitute to take his place at that meeting may be nominated by him. Such substitute shall be entitled to take part in the proceedings of that meeting for which he has been nominated and shall also have the right to vote therein.

Register of Members

• The Agency shall maintain a register of members at its registered office and every member shall sign the required form stating its occupation and address. The register would be kept open for inspection by the members of the Agency.

• It shall be incumbent upon a member of the Agency to notify to the Secretary - General any change of his address or occupation.   

• The Agency shall enter in the register of members the following particulars

i )       Name and address of each member

ii)          The date on which the member was admitted.

iii)         The date on which the member ceased to be a member. 

Termination of Membership:

Not withstanding anything  as contained in rule 4, a member of the Agency shall cease to continue as such  member if he –  

•   dies,  

•   resigns from his membership,  

•   becomes unsound in mind,  

•   becomes insolvent,  

•   is convicted of any criminal offence or  

•   is removed by the State Government.   

The State Government and the Government of India shall be entitled to obtain information, advice and assistance of the Agency on all matters connected with the Objectives of the Society and on related matters. 

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General Body :  

•       The General Body will consist of all members including Chairman and Secretary - General of the Agency

•       The General Body will consist of all members including Chairman and Secretary - General of the Agency.  

•       Chairman of the General Body shall be appointed by the State Government and shall be the Chairman of the Agency.

•      Joint Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Mizoram and one of the first members of the Agency shall be the Ex-officio Secretary- General  of the General Body.  

•       The term of office of the General Body will be three years from the date of its constitution

•       The General Body shall meet at least once in six months. A quorum for the meeting will be ten members present. A fresh meeting must be convened immediately by the Chairman in case this requirement of quorum is not met at that meeting so convened

•       The General Body shall function notwithstanding that any person entitled to be a member by reason of his office is not represented on the General Body for the time being. Proceedings of the General Body shall not be invalidated by the above reason or by reason of any vacancy or defect in nomination of any of the members.  

•      Should a member of the General Body by virtue of the office held by him be unable in attending the meetings of the General Body, a substitute to take his place at that meeting may be nominated by such member. Such substitute then shall be entitled to take part in the proceedings of that meeting for which he has been nominated and shall also have the right to vote therein

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Powers of General Body:

1)    Save as herein expressly provided as having to be passed by the Agency in its General Meeting, general management, policy-making, administration and control of the Agency shall be exercised or performed by the General Body subject to such limitations as the State Government may from time to time impose by directions.

2)    In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the General Body may:  

•       consider the annual budget and its subsequent alterations and annual report placed before it by the Secretary - General from time to time and pass it with such modifications as the General Body may think fit.  

•       delegate any of its powers other than those of making rules to the Chairman, Executive Committee, as it may deem fit

•       appoint committees, boards and sub-committees etc. for such purpose and on such terms, as it may deem fit and remove any or all of them, subject to sub – rule (I).  

•       perform and carry out such functions and duties as may from time to time, be directed by the State Government to it.   

Proceedings of the General Body:  

• The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the General Body. In his absence, the members present may authorize one of them (other than the Secretary - General) to preside over the meeting.

• Not less than 5 clear days’ notice of every meeting of the General Body shall be given to each member.

• The Chairman may himself / call or by a requisition in writing signed by him, may require the Secretary – General to call a meeting of the General Body at any time and on the receipt of such requisition, the Secretary - General shall forthwith call such a meeting.  

• Each member of the General Body will have one vote and in the event of equality of votes on any question to be decided, the Chairman will have a casting vote.  

• Any business which may be necessary for the General Body to perform may be performed by a resolution in writing circulated among all its members and any such resolution so circulated and approved by a majority of the members signing shall be as effective and binding as a resolution passed at a meeting of the General Body.   

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Annual General Meeting:  

•       The Agency shall hold an Annual General Meeting at least once in every year and not more than 15 months shall elapse between two successive Annual General Meetings.  

•       Balance-Sheet and Auditor’s Report shall be placed at the Annual General Meeting of the Agency for its consideration

•       At least ten members of the Agency present at the Annual General Meeting shall form a quorum

Executive Committee:  

• There shall be a body called Executive Committee appointed from the members of the General Body to look after the operational affairs and day to day functions of the Agency.

• Executive Committee will consist of not more than 5 members including Chairman and Secretary. All members shall be appointed by the General Body with approval or in consultation with the State Government.   

• Secretary to the Government of Mizoram, Industries Department shall be the Executive Chairman of the Executive Committee

• Director of Industries, Government of Mizoram shall be the Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee.

• Project Manager, in charge of Bamboo Development in the Directorate of Industries, Government of Mizoram, Aizawl shall be the Secretary of the Executive Committee.   

• The term of office of the Executive Committee will be two years from the date of its constitution.   

• The Executive Committee shall meet at least once in two months. Quorum for the meeting shall be three members present. A fresh meeting must be convened immediately by the Secretary in case this requirement of quorum is not met at that meeting so convened.  

• The Executive Committee shall function notwithstanding that any person entitled to be a member by reason of his office is not represented on the Executive Committee for the time being. Proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by the above reason or by reason of any vacancy or defect in nomination of any of the members.   

• Should a member of the Executive Committee by virtue of the office held by him be unable in attending the meetings of the Executive Committee, a substitute to take his place at that meeting may be nominated by the authority who nominated or appointed that member. Such substitute shall be entitled to take part in the proceedings of that meeting for which he has been nominated and shall also have the right to vote therein.

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Power of Executive Committee:  

• Save as herein expressly provided as having to be passed by the Agency in its General Meeting and General Body Meeting, all duties, powers, functions and rights whatsoever or consequential to the carrying out of the objectives of the Agency shall be exercised or performed on delegation by the Executive Committee subject to such limitations as the General Body in consultation with the State Government may, from time to time, impose.

• In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Executive Committee may:  

a)         receive and disburse grants, contributions, fund, assistance, donations and endowment, for fulfillments of the objectives of the Agency.

b)         delegate any of its powers other than those of making rules to the Chairman, Secretary or other authorities of the Agency, as it may deem fit for the purpose of fulfilling the objectives of the Agency.

c)         appoint committees and sub-committees for such purpose and on such terms, as it may deem fit and also remove any or all of them.

d)         do generally all such acts and things as may be necessary or incidental to carrying out the objectives of the Agency or any of them; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorize the Executive Committee to do any act or to pass any bye-laws which may be repugnant to the provisions hereof or to the powers hereby conferred on the General Body and other authorities or which may be inconsistent with the objectives of the Agency.

e)         perform and carry out such functions and duties as may from time to time, be directed by the General Body to it. 

Proceedings of the Executive Committee:  

• Executive Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the same. In his absence, the Vice-Chairman, and in absence of both of them, members present may authorize one of them (other than the Secretary) to preside over the meeting.   

• Not less than 3 clear days’ notice of every meeting of the Executive Committee shall be given to each member.

• The Executive Chairman may himself, call or by a requisition in writing signed by him, may require the Secretary to call a meeting of the Executive Committee at any time and on the receipt of such requisition, the Secretary shall forthwith call such a meeting.   

• Each member of the Executive Committee shall have one vote and in the event of equality of votes on any question to be decided, the Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.   

• Any business which may be necessary for the Executive Committee to perform may be performed by a resolution in writing circulated among all its members and any such resolution so circulated and approved by a majority of the members signing shall be as effective and binding as a resolution passed at a meeting of Executive Committee.   

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Funds of the Agency:

The funds of the Agency shall consist of the following  

• Grants, assistance, loan received from State and Central Governments.  

• Donations, assistance, grants and loans received from person or bodies.  

• Income from investments or services.  

• Income from other sources.  

Bankers of the Agency shall be selected by the General Body. All funds of the Agency shall be credited into the Agency’s joint account of Secretary and two other members of the General Body with the said bank and shall not be withdrawn except on cheques signed by the Secretary of the Executive Committee and any one of the other two members so nominated by the General Body.   

Accounts and Audit:

The Accounts of the Agency shall be audited by a Chartered Accountant to be appointed by the General Body. These accounts shall be subject to a second audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The nature of audit to be applied and the detailed arrangements to be made in regard to the form of accounts and their maintenance, and the presentation of accounts for audit shall be prescribed by the Bye-laws to be framed by the General Body.  

An Annual Report of the proceedings of the Agency and of all work undertaken during the year shall be prepared by the General Body for the information of the State Government and the members of the Agency. This report and the audited accounts of the Agency shall be placed before the Agency at the Annual General Meeting. 

Within 30 days after the holding of Annual General Meeting there shall be filed, with the Registrar of Firms and Societies:  

• A list of names, addresses and occupations of the members of the General Body, the Chairman, Secretary - General and of other office bearers of the Agency;  

• An annual report by the previous year; and  

• A copy each of the balance sheet and of the auditor’s report certified by the auditor. Such list and  the annual report shall be certified by the Chairman and the Secretary – General of the Agency.

If any change occurs in the composition of the General Body or in the holder of the office of the Chairman or the Secretary – General at any time for any reason arising through such change shall, within 30 days be notified to the Registrar of Firms & Societies

Property of the Agency:

All property belonging to the Agency shall be deemed to be vested in the General Body of the Agency but shall be referred to as ‘The property of the Agency’. 

Suits and proceedings by and against the Agency:

The Agency may sue or may be sued in the name of the Executive-Chairman or Secretary of the Executive Committee.  

• No suit or proceeding shall abate by reason of any vacancy or change in the holder of the office of the Executive-Chairman or the Secretary.  

• Every decree/order against the Agency in any suit or proceeding shall be executable against the property of the Agency and not against the person or the property of the Executive Chairman or the Secretary

• Subject to the provisions of these Rules, every member of General Body or Executive Committee, Secretary and other officers or employees of the Agency shall be indemnified by the Agency against, and it shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to pay out the funds of the Agency all costs, losses and expenses which such officer or employee may have to incur or become liable to, by reason of any contract entered into, or act, or things done by him in the discharge of his duties as such officer or employee.  

Every member of the Agency may be sued or prosecuted by the Agency for any loss or damage caused to the Agency or its property or for any thing done by him detrimental to the interests of the Agency.

The Agency shall keep at its registered office proper books of accounts in which should be entered:

• All sums of money received and the sources thereof and all sums of money expended by the Agency and the object or purpose for which such sums are expended  

• The Agency’s assets and liabilities.

Every member of the General Body shall have the right of inspection of accounts and registers maintained by the Agency and proceedings of the meetings of the Agency at any time during office hours. 

No member shall receive profits upon dissolution of the Agency on its claims and liabilities.  If there are any surplus assets, such assets shall not be paid to or distributed amongst the members of the Agency or any of them but shall be disposed of as a directed by the State Government in consultation with the Registrar of Firms and Societies. 

A notice may be served upon any member of the Agency either personally or by sending it through post in an envelope addressed to such member at the address mentioned in the Register of members. 

Any notice so served by post shall be deemed to have been served on the day following that on which the letter envelop or wrapper containing the same is posted and in proving such service it shall be sufficient to prove that the cover containing  such notice was properly addressed and put into the post office

The Rules of the Agency may be amended subject to the approval of the General Body at any time by a Resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Agency present at any Annual General meeting of the Agency, which shall have been duly convened for the purpose. The amended Rules will be deemed to have come into force in accordance with the provisions contained in Societies’ Registration Act, 1860 ( Act. No 21 of 1860)(As modified by Mizoram Act No 3 of 1977) 

The General Body :

The Agency Office :

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Annual Report 2002-03 :

Meetings:

The two committees viz. General Body and Executive Committee control and regulate the Agency. Report of the two committees are:

General Body: The General Body constituted by 9 members had 4 meetings held in the office chamber of Chairman (Chief Secretary of Mizoram) at the time as below:

• On 28.05.2002

• On 28.10.2002

• On 02.12.2002

• On 04.03.2003

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee having 5 members had 2 meetings in the office chamber of its Chairman (Secretary to the Govt. of Mizoram, Industries Department) at the following times:

• On 17.09.2002

• On 20.09.2002

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Office Establishment:

The Agency’s office is now running in the building of Directorate of Industries, Khatla. Aizawl.

The staffing position is:  

As on date, only one person, i.e. chowkider at Bamboo Industry Complex, Sairang is getting salary from the fund of the Agency. All others are drawing their salaries from respective parent departments. 

 Assets:  

• One light motor vehicle viz. Marshall has been purchased for use in the Agency’s office.
• One lap top cOne telephone connection bearing no 2314950 installed and fax machine has been installed.omputer has been purchased.
• Some essential furnitures have been purchased.   

Projects and activities:

Bamboo Floor Board Industry under Joint Venture Initiative:  

The State Government has transferred a project – Bamboo Floor Board Industry under joint venture initiative to the Agency, for which Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Govt. of Mizoram and M/s Venus Bamboo Products (P) Ltd., Falta EPZ, West Bengal. The project with a cost of Rs 623.55 lakhs is to produce bamboo floor board, parquet, doors etc. for export and domestic markets.   

Under this project, the Agency counter-guarantees the term loan taken by the Company from Central Bank of India, Kolkata main branch and contribute 50 % of the equity share, but initially Rs 103.00 lakhs of which Rs 78.00 lakhs is for purchase of additional machineries and relocation cost and Rs 25.00 lakhs for working capital margin. Further, the Agency is to lease on rent to the JV unit an infrastructure worth Rs 73.50 lakhs. 

The Agency has received a sum of Rs 151.50 lakhs as grant from Govt. of Mizoram for infrastructure development and cost of relocation and additional machineries. The remaining amount of Rs 25.00 lakhs will be managed from its current account or by way of loan from financial institutions. 

After obtaining vetting of Law Department and Finance Department of the Govt. of Mizoram, the Agency is in a position to counter guarantee the term loan stated above. 

After due approval of Law Department and Finance Department of the Govt. of Mizoram, the Agency has executed a joint venture agreement with the firm on 14 March 2003 to form a company viz. Mizoram Venus Bamboo Products Ltd., to be established at Sairang, Aizawl District, Mizoram. Board of Directors will have 5 members, of which three including Chairman will be from the Agency and two including Managing Director will be from the partner Company. Nomination for the Chairman and two directors has already been done by the Agency. The nominated are Pu Laima Chozah (Chairman, Executive Committee of BDA) for Chairman and Pu C.Hmingthanzuala (Executive Director of BDA) and Pu Rosiama Vanchong (Member, General Body of BDA) as directors. The succeeding actions like approval of Central Bank of India and registration under Company Act etc. lie on the joint venture partner of the Agency/the new Joint Venture Company. 

Techno-economic feasibility study has been prepared and appraisal done from a Chartered Accountant firm based in Guwahati. 

The Agency has taken up infrastructure development at the factory site with the fund received. Followings are the items of infrastructure development:

• Coating/finishing/ show/office building.

• Generator building

• Timber sawing shed

• Spraying shed

• Machine & tool building

• Quarters

• Drainage systems

• Timber stock yard

• Bamboo stock yard

• Approach to spraying shed

• Loading bay

• Utility buildings

• Approach to timber stock yard.

These works will be completed within few weeks.

It is expected that this project will be on commercial operation by October 2003.   

Bamboo Floor Board Industry under NLPF:

A project of Bamboo Floor Board Industry, Sairang, Aizawl District, Mizoram, funded from Non-lapsable Pool of Central Resources of the Govt. of India with a sanctioned amount of Rs 4.00 crore has been transferred from Industries Department to the Agency on 20.3.03. 

The project is manufacture bamboo floor board and similar products with annual production of 60,000 sqM annually for both domestic and export markets. 

With the previous release of Rs 1.00 crore, Industries Department has constructed factory building, office building, approach road, water supply, fencing, landscaping etc. 

Recently, Govt. of India released Rs 3.00 crore for completion of the Project. This amount is for import of Taiwanese machines, miscellaneous fixed assets, electrical works, pre-operative expenses etc. 

A Taiwanese firm viz. M/s Boarke Machine Co. Ltd., Taichung, Taiwan (ROC) has been contacted for supply of machinery. The firm not only willing to supply the machinery but expresses interest to participate as joint venture partner and invest certain amount. Draft Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared and communicated to the firm. The firm agrees to the MOU in principle. 

It is expected that this project will be in commercial operation by October 2003. 

It may be mentioned here that, this project and the above Joint Venture Project may need be placed under one umbrella for better management and utilization of infrastructures. 

Construction of demonstration house under FDDBC project:

Indian Plywood Industries Research & Training Institute (IPIRTI), Bangalore has developed a new product – bamboo mat corrugated sheet for roofing. A project named Field Demonstration and Development of Bamboo Composite (FDDBC), which is part of the project is part of the above project. Under this FDDBC project demonstration houses are to be constructed in various parts of Mizoram to be funded by Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), New Delhi.

Bamboo Development Agency has proposed different sites as below:

• Type I quarter at Bamboo Industries Complex, Sairang, Aizawl.

• Type II quarter at Bamboo Industries Complex, Sairang, Aizawl

• OPD Building near TB Hospital, Zemabawk, Aizawl.

• Picnic Shed at YMA park, Tlangnuam, Aizawl.

• Waiting Shed at PC Hospital, Durtlang, Aizawl

• Quarter at District park, Kolasib.

• Library building at DC complex, Kolasib.

• Office at market complex, Kolasib.

• Cottage at Tourist Complex, Lunglei

• Guest Room at DC building, Lunglei

Site plan and architectural drawings have been prepared by the Agency office and sent to IPIRTI, Bangalore and BMTPC, New Delhi for approval and sanction of fund. Some of the sites and drawings are approved by IPIRTI and BMTPC and alternative locations for some sites are being worked upon.   

ASIDE Scheme:

Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India launched new scheme named Assistance to State for Infrastructure Development for Exports and Allied Activities (ASIDE) merging the erstwhile CIB Scheme, EPIP Scheme, EDF Schemes etc. The Scheme specifically states that the Nodal Agency should be either Government agency or undertaking or reliable NGO involved in export activities. Due to absence of other organization with technical and financial capacity, the State Government has nominated the Bamboo Development Agency as nodal officer for this ASIDE Scheme in Mizoram.

After completion of all necessary ground works, Ministry of Commerce has released Rs 1.00 crore to the Agency which is kept in safe custody of the Agency’s account.

Due to some reasons like – non-completion of land acquisition process for EPIP, Lengte, non-utilisation of earlier sanctioned CIB Schemes under different State Government Departments and non-selection of projects by State Level Export Promotion Committee to be taken up under the Scheme, the released fund are yet not utilized. 

Research, Development & Application on bamboo concrete technology:

Fully knowing the huge potential of bamboo resource for application in infrastructure development and from the technical and general know-how on bamboo properties, application and building and infrastructure factors, Project Manager of the Agency has invented a new bamboo concrete technology. A proposal for development of this technology has been submitted to CBTC-UNIDO for funding, the result of which is awaited. 

This technology will substitute conventional building materials like a.c. sheets, c.g.i. roofing materials, steel reinforcements, bricks, timbers etc. by bamboo in various forms at a cheaper cost but with more durable, eco-friendly, better insulation and better aesthetic appearances. 

An experiment has been conducted with limited available fund and so far the results obtained are very much promising on structural stability, aesthetic properties and economy. 

This technology is in great demand for application in the State as well as surrounding states and countries where bamboo resources are available. This can be ascertained from the fact that inquiries/comments on this aspect have been received from Housing & Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), District Rural Development Agency (DRDA)- Aizawl and private firms. 

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Others:

Project proposal for bamboo pebble mats submitted to MoRD:

A project proposal amounting Rs 103.40 lakhs for setting up of pilot unit fro bamboo pebble mat has been prepared and submitted to Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, for funding. Bamboo pebble mat is very popular in PR China under the name ‘bamboo mahjong mats’ as cottage industries generating huge revenue for rural people through rural industrial activities. 

Ministry of Rural Development has advised to revise the proposal as per Special SGSY guidelines. Pursuant to this, revised Project Report has been prepared with an estimated project cost of Rs 391.44 lakhs and re-submitted to the Ministry during the last week of March 2003. The project is to set up one mother unit for training, sample production, sales promotion and technology adaptation and 9 such rural industrial units in Thingsulthliah RD Block of Aizawl District, Mizoram, to be implemented jointly by the Agency and District Rural Development Agency - Aizawl. 

Preparation of bamboo web-site:

Bamboo web-site is intended to be hosted by the Agency. The web-site is being prepared by the Agency office by itself without engaging private firm thus not requiring uses of fund for consultancy. Due to other urgent engagement and want of facilities like digital cameras etc. the web-site design is yet not finished and is expected to be finished within a short period of time. It is intended that the web-site, once fully developed will contain bamboo plantation, resources management, utilization, trade, practices, new and events etc. both in English and Mizo language. 

Bamboo enumeration and training:

Industries Department, Govt. of Mizoram has entrusted the Agency to take up the work of bamboo enumeration for some potential areas and training for those people with special reference to the industrial projects being taken up at Sairang. The amount of Rs 3.83 lakhs has been sanctioned and will be transferred by the Department to the Agency within a short period of time. 

Preparation for this has been started by the Agency and will be completed within few months. 

HUDCO Chair in Mizoram

Housing & Urban Development Corporation has approached the Agency for establishment of HUDCO Chair in Mizoram, aiming at Decentralized Training in Urban Sector covering training, capacity building, research and other activities to promote housing, urban development and effective urban management in Mizoram. HUDCO will provide Rs 7.50 lakhs per year for a period of 5 years.

As the Agency is not having infrastructure for this kind, Mizoram University was requested by the Agency and approval of the stated University has been obtained. 

(The activities report is approved by General Body on its 6^th Meeting on 18^th June 2003 in the Office Chamber of the Chairman, Bamboo Development Agency – Mizoram)