Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

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All rights reserved by VASUNDHARA(www.vasundharaorissa.org). For any clarification, contact author at sunlit1968@yahoo.co.in Dragging and stacking is often not done immediately after cutting. The cutters start these works after they cut sufficient quantity of bamboo. Cutters' wages are paid on the basis of the rates fixed by the Labour Commissioner. The wages should not be lesser than the prescribed ones, and several factors including ground realities may force the employer to pay a higher rate. For instance, in naxalite areas the employers would like to pay the best possible price so that the naxals are not annoyed. Annexure-3 gives the wage rates prescribed by the Labour Commissioner. As one would find therein, there is no rate fixed for daba. In fact, there is no mention of the species(salia or daba). Further, there is no recommendation for long bamboo. Following are some of the latest rates of wages(average) for salia: 1. Industrial bamboo: For cutting a bundle(salia IB): Rs.4.50 to 5(this includes charges for dragging and stacking at the nearest roadside) Taking the bundle to the loading site: Rs.1.50 to 2(or more) depending on the distance Taking the average production and transportation capacity of a cutter as 8 bundles per manday(8 hours), his income per man-day is ±Rs.50. 2. Long bamboo: For cutting a piece: Rs.2(average) (discussion with villagers of Pokharigochha) In 2005, the rates of payment in the Dasapalla area reportedly varied from Rs.5 to Rs.7.50 per bundle of salia, and Rs.1.50 to Rs.2 per culm of long bamboo. As the months got hotter, the payment increased(say,Rs.5 in January became Rs.6.50 in March) since the employer was in a hurry to achieve his target within the short period of time. In addition to the above, the cutters get some additional income for rebinding the bundles at the depot @Re.0.50 per bundle and also for loading the trucks @Rs.1.25/bundle. For loading long bamboo the payment may be @Rs.1.50 per piece since handling long bamboo pieces is difficult. Cutting charges for long bamboo is often fixed in terms of 100 pieces. Piece-meal rates are also fixed for loading both IB and CB in the trucks. Cutting in private lands may fetch higher wages. For instance, cutting thorny clumps provides a lot of scope for the cutters to demand a significantly higher price(Rs.7 or more per piece). 33
All rights reserved by VASUNDHARA(www.vasundharaorissa.org). For any clarification, contact author at sunlit1968@yahoo.co.in The cutters sometimes risk their life while working in the forests. In some cases, there is a threat of elephant attack. Besides, in some culms/clumps dangerous snakes like boda (viper) and chiti (krait) are encountered. Hence, any negligence or absent-mindedness can be fatal. In some cases the cutters camp inside the forests when they are far away from their home. Group work gives them strength and confidence to face the challenges and it is for this reason that some of them take their families with them. Processing: Bamboo is processed differently for different kinds of use. Green/mature bamboo poles are either directly used or are split longitudinally for house-building purposes. Thorns are removed with the help of an axe or similar instrument before any such use. However, untreated thorny bamboo is directly used for fencing purpose. Sometimes bamboo of 0.5 to 1.5 inches diameter are required not only for house-building purposes, but also for other specific reasons, like for use as a walking stick, or as a protecting weapon. For such kind of specific use, the bamboo needs to be straight, solid, strong, and free from thorns, etc.. Ideal pieces of this kind are hardly available, particularly if searched in thorny bamboo culms.Hence, some additional processing is required for whatever available material. For instance, pieces that are not straight are subjected to heat treatment(baking on open fire, particularly after applying a coating of oil). Green culms are sometimes immerged in ponds or other water bodies for few days. This helps in increasing their durability because some water-soluble substances, which facilitate insect attack, are leached out in this process (Roonwal et al 1966 quoted in Seethalakshi K. & Muktesh Kumar M. 1998, Bamboos of India, p.65). Weaving is the most intricate part of non-industrial bamboo processing. On the basis of the strength of the bamboo cane, it can be divided into three classes, as under: 1. Coarse: This requires more muscle power as the strips used are thicker and wider than those used in the other two. Large bamboo mat-like structures, which are even used as a substitute of bricks 14 in making mud houses, are a product of this kind of weaving. Also belong to this class are the rodara (large basket-like constructions used for transporting various materials from one place to another and the huge jarlike structure used for storing paddy. The jhudi used by labourers for removing soil, stone and other such things at construction sites is also a product of this kind of weaving. 2. Medium: In this case, the products are of comparatively smaller size(unlike rodara) and thin strips are used in them. A wide range of products belong to this class which include paan-jhudi to kula. 14 Mud is applied on both sides of this mat(vertically fixed) to construct the wall. 34
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Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

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