Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

All rights reserved by VASUNDHARA(www.vasundharaorissa.org). For any clarification, contact author at sunlit1968@yahoo.co.in
Taking the average harvesting rate per day as 8 bundles, in a month a cutter should get a
cash income of Rs. 960(sundays excluded) @Rs.5/bundle. Bringing the bamboo from the
hills to the plains below earns them some additional income like Rs.2/bundle.
During departmental felling, labourers(cutters) are paid on daily wage basis.
Non-resident cutters
Contribution of World Food Programme
Since 1986(and upto 2004), Rs.26,14,13882.82 had been spent under World Food Programme, in
Orissa. The Programme provides food for forest labourers engaged in plantation work,
silvicultural operations, bamboo cutting, etc., and is implemented through a special wing of the
Orissa Forest Department. The Programme is run basically on the basis of supply as well as
funding from overseas, and the state govt only pays for the transportation of the food materials.
In late '80s, when OFDC(then OFC) decided to implement WFP in bamboo working, it expected a
lot from this programme as stated in the following:
"The amount to be spent for implementation of WFP in bamboo working by OFC would be xxxx
Rs.48 lakhs. As against this expenditure by distribution of xxxx 30,00,000 food units, OFC will
generate xxxx Rs.90,00,000 /- towards WFP welfare fund which will remain with OFC for
utilisation in labour welfare works. This amount will be a great asset for OFC Ltd. for developing
labour welfare oriented infrastructure at the beginning of the bamboo working operation. Besides,
implementation of WFP will attract the labourers, and will ensure good outturn of bamboo. xxx"
In 1988-89, bamboo cutters had to contribute Rs.3/working-day/person in lieu of the food supplied
to them under this programme. This money used to be deducted from their wage, and sent to the
headquarters where the authorities decided, as per the proposal received from DFOs or NGOs, on
distributing the same for the welfare of tribals in different tribal districts of the state.
Rice used to come from US or Australia; pulse(often the yellow split pees) from Denmark; and
refined vegetable oil from US or France. Recently, rice has been arranged from Indian sources;
but the purchasing power is in the hands of the country office. However, confusion still remains
regarding the quality of these food materials supplied from western countries.
Recently, the cost of food unit has been revised. Accordingly, it now consists of 2.5 kg rice and
200 gram pulse only; and the cost is Rs.9/unit. However, the implementing districts may vary
from year to year, and for 2005 only six districts (Korapur, Nabarangpur, Rayagada,
Malkangiri,Kandhamal and Kalahandi) were selected under this programme. Accordingly, for
bamboo working in other districts the WFP scheme would not be implemented (source: WFP
office, Bhubaneswar).
Bamboo cutting operation requires skilled and efficient labourers. The job is a tough one
and hence not everybody is expected to take up this challenge, unless the situation compels
for that. It is for this reason that cutters used to be invited by OFDC to work in distant
coupe-areas in some cases. Their travel expenses were partially reimbursed, and the
payment in kind through the World Food Programme helped them arrange their food in
56