Over the past few weeks we have received fantastic feedback on our efforts of showcasing the real heroes across India and abroad, who are redefining opportunities for rural India. In keeping with that spirit, we are glad to introduce Prashant Lingam, Co-founder, Bamboo House India, which aims to provide 5 million jobs to bamboo artisans in North-East India.

Q. How did the idea of Bamboo House develop?

A. It all started with a hunt in the market to find eco-friendly furniture for our house. When we searched online, we found global solutions but nothing in the Indian market. We networked further which got us to NID Ahmedabad, and then led us to the Indo-Bangladesh border. The only purpose there was to buy furniture, but looking at the people’s situation, it struck a chord with us and we decided that something has to be done. This started our study on the Indian Bamboo sector for almost 9 months, which led to Bamboo House India.

When we started BHI, we had no idea as to how we will help these people as the bamboo sector in India is extremely difficult to work in because it comes directly under the Forest Act. Harvesting and transportation are not permitted and we managed to develop a business model without going against the Act.

Q. When was the venture launched?

A. We formally got registered as a society in May 2008 and initially studied species of Bamboo and the various processes required for creating a finished product. In the front end, we went ahead to various exhibitions with a mandate of just getting customer feedback and no sales. Since by this time, we had a fairly decent knowledge, we gave a business plan of a chain of Bamboo showrooms nationally to CII Hyderabad, which got considered after heavy persistence.

Everybody told us, you guys are just a fancy venture nothing else.

Q. What benefits does bamboo have over normal wood?

A. Bamboo is a grass; it grows as much as you cut it. A teak tree takes 20 years to grow, once cut. Two doors in your home add upto 40 years, while bamboo grows 3-4 inches every day. Once you plant bamboo, you can harvest it yearly.

We got to know that IIT-D has been working on Bamboo rural Housing and were looking for a social entrepreneur who could take it to the rural market. Hence, we partnered with them to create low-cost housing using bamboo. It was a risk for both and nobody gave us land to set up a bamboo house as everyone feared it breaking down. So we established the first experimental structure of IIT-D on the rooftop of our house!

Q. What were the initial challenges you faced and what have you learned from them?

A. One of the major issues with bamboo is that it traps moisture and the pole cracks. We lost almost 4 lac rupees on all the furniture which cracked. When we started, no one knew this happens or the solution. We went back to the artisans in the North East (Tripura, Assam etc) and they gave us the know-how. And then we started again after losing all the money!

Though the number of challenges have reduced, but it will still take us at least an year to come up with a solid business model. The people in these regions don’t understand our language. They are fed up with the many NGOs coming to them, making documentaries and nothing happening after that.

When we put in money, they valued that. It gave them confidence though some money is still stuck. Secondly the tribal mindset echoes the sentiment that “Sahab, aapko mere tareeke se kaam karna hai toh karo, warna mat karo” (Read: Sir, if you want to work my way, let’s do that or you can leave!) We need to keep their sensitivities in mind otherwise it messes up things a lot.

The lack of connectivity is also a big issue. To communicate, I have to send a furniture design through the post, which takes 25 days to reach. The artisan then travels 40kms to reach to the first phone to tell me that he has received it.

We have taught a few communities to use mobiles, the internet and cameras to improve the situation.

Q. The dream of creating a livelihood for 5 million households is a bold one, how do you plan to achieve it?

A. Across the North East, both directly and indirectly, people just have bamboo for their livelihood and survival. You will be astonished to know that most of these people are not connected even through a railway line, while we talk about globalization. They haven’t seen a courier or heard of the service. And 90% of the country’s bamboo is found in these north-eastern states. There is a huge opportunity to provide employment here.

Q. How is BHI looking to make money?

A. We have multiple revenue options today. Though we started with furniture and building structures with IIT-D, we got other opportunities also. BHI is one of the only organizations that understands the variety of bamboo species in India. We are active in bamboo plantations and providing consulting on turnkey solutions. At the same time, we’re doing penthouses on rooftops, handicrafts and exports.  We now have to streamline these channels.

The entire bamboo supply in India is coming from China and we have just a single unit in upper Nagaland supplying good quality bamboo flooring. Architects and builders have access to the Chinese products but they have no clue about the Indian product.

Q. What expectations you have from the external associations?

A. We are looking towards support in terms of getting the word out about bamboo in India. It’s essential for people to know the quality products that exist in India.

We hope that this article will be a positive step to getting the word out about Bamboo House India. We thank Prashant for this amazing insight into a whole world of Bamboo, and wish BHI the very best in their endeavor.

Taking this opportunity we call upon social entrepreneurs who are making new inroads into creating energy for rural India. SUBMIT your solutions now to the Global Energy Challenge Contest.