Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: A new Common Facility Centre opened in Umsiang, Meghalaya. The site sits in the Ri-Bhoi district. Officials want to turn discarded banana pseudostems into cash. They are making natural fiber, handmade paper, and biodegradable sheets. Farmers usually toss these stems after harvest.
The North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach built the shop. It is an autonomous group under the Department of Science and Technology. Funding came from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region via the PM-DevINE scheme. This project aims to spark entrepreneurship and help local self-help groups.
High-ranking guests attended the opening. They included Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology Prof. Umesh Waghmare and Secretary of the North Eastern Council Satinder Kumar Bhalla. Dr. Jaideep Baruah from the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council also watched the launch. The team showed off machines that strip fibers from the stems.
Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma, Director General of NECTAR, pushed the potential of the resource. He told the crowd, "The model could be replicated across the Northeast to promote environmental sustainability, income generation and regional economic development." The facility provides technology access to locals who want to build a business. The government hopes this model grows across the entire region.
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