Bamboo: A Lifeline for the Dumn's of Himachal Pradesh

摘要

In present times, there is an overt attention being paid to environment friendly sustainable development options. This attention has seen a resurgence of interest in natural raw materials and their traditional usage. In times when major scientific interventions are on the anvil to upgrade such usage it is contended that the traditional users tend to be neglected/overlooked. In this light the present study is an attempt to explore the socio-economic scenario of a community for whom bamboo is simply a lifeline. In the bamboo growing regions of the State of Himachal Pradesh this plant has traditionally provided both fodder and fuel wood. It has also been used as a construction material for strengthening floors and ceilings etc. The plant is also considered auspicious at weddings and the vedi is fabricated out of bamboo. In addition to these uses bamboo has also been used to fabricate baskets, sieves, grain storage containers and animal pen doors etc. The expertise and indigenous technical knowledge to undertake such fabrication has traditionally vested with the Dumna community in Himachal Pradesh. Socially this has been a marginalized and under privileged community. The present paper examines issues centered on output and marketability of the produce of these artisans. The role of the market and the specific issue of up gradation of skills are also attended to. In addition the paper also examines the possibilities and mechanisms of economic empowerment of the women of this community. The paper specifically focuses on the scope of commercial exploitation of bamboo by women. The instrument of self-help groups is examined in this context. This exercise makes out a case for the possibility of people centered sustainable development as securing livelihoods through the revival/promotion of traditional skills/practices would have considerable spill over effects with far reaching implications for overall sustainable development.