Founders of Bamboo House India: Building Green Futures

Presented By:

Lohit Bharambe

Sai Mahesh

Introduction Prashant Lingam and Aruna Kappagantula started

Bamboo House India (BHI) in may 2008.

Initially, the duo faced many problems such as getting

approvals, convincing various regulatory bodies and

encouraging artisans but they handled and solved

them in a more creative way.

We’re starting with small changes that work, and as

each small change becomes a new reality.

Idea Generation Nearly 71% of these ideas come from modified

ones or from past employment.

Only 4% of ideas are generated from systematic

research for opportunities

5% swept into PC revolution

Whereas 20% are discovered out of chance

Rather than routine furniture, they wanted to buy

some eco-friendly furniture.

They were not satisfied with the locally offered

bamboo furniture and started searching for the

availability of bamboo furniture outlets and bamboo

furniture markers.

India is well-endowed with resources of bamboo and

is the 2nd largest bamboo producer in the world.

Most of the country was imported from China,

Indonesia, Malaysia, etc..,

Idea Screening Their study showed that a small village, Katlamara in

Tripura adjoining the Indo-Bangladesh border, home

to a tribe is rich in making unique bamboo products.

Scientifically, bamboo is a grass but the Indian forest

Act of 1927 Section 2 (7) classifies bamboo as a

TREE.

Section 26 of the Forest Act 1927, prohibits cropping

of bamboo in reserved forest except by forest

department

Having observed the supply and demand sides of

bamboo, Couple studied the promotional aspect too.

They observed that the government policies towards

bamboo were very conducive with National Bamboo

Mission’s ( NBM)

Before establishing the organization, to study the

market feasibility, they conducted an exhibition of

bamboo products.

They received a positive response, All these aspects

further motivated them to set up a bamboo business.

Motivating the Artisans One of the major challenges, BHI faced was with the

mindset of Artisans.

Couple found it difficult to convince, communicate and

gain the trust of the artisans, as language was the barrier

for communication.

To build a strong relationship and to gain good rapport

with artisans, founders started investing money.

Situation at ground level is pretty bad, no work, no

money, artisans need round the year work

With inherent leadership skills, the couple overcame

some of the challenges.

Couple said they would pay INR 20,000-30,000 a

month to the seven main artisans

Even though sales were not happening, they were

paid salaries- INR 350 per day to daily wages and INR

8000 per month to permanent employees.

Even today, they draw designs on paper and send it

through post, which takes almost 20-25 days to

reach the artisans.

Partnership for promoting Business Operations

It partnered with all the related agencies – NBM, NMBA,

Confederation of Indian Industry, IIT-D, TBM, APTDC,

IL&FS, APFD working in the bamboo sector.

Provide funding support for bamboo projects as banks and

financial institution do not support this sector.

BHI by entering into partnerships with these government

and semi- government organizations has benefited in terms

of gaining incentives, subsidies, investments in projects

like rural housing.

BHI took an initiative to bring various institutions

together under one roof to arrive at a unanimous

decision.

By 2010, they plan to set up at least 3-5

exclusive bamboo showrooms across the country

under PPP model which as such has never been

tried in the country.