Satpuda Adivasi Bamboo Association

The Satpuda Adivasi Bamboo Association works out of Akkalkuwa. We are based at Sudhirkumar Bramhane's place near Tala Kuwa in the Nandurbar district. This area is full of bamboo, so it makes sense for us to be here. We work with the local tribal people who have been making things out of bamboo for generations. It is a skill that you don't see much in the big cities anymore. We help get the raw bamboo sorted and then see how it can be turned into things that people can actually use or sell. The work is dusty and involves a lot of manual labor. Our hands are usually rough from handling the stalks all day. Sudhirkumar’s house is the main hub where everyone gathers to talk about the harvest or the prices. We don't have a corporate structure. It’s more like a big group of neighbors working toward the same thing. The roads around here can be rough, especially when it rains, so getting the bamboo out to the markets is always a challenge. We spend a lot of time just figuring out the logistics of moving materials from one village to another. It is not a glamorous job, but it keeps the local traditions going and puts some money in people's pockets. Nandurbar is a quiet place, and we like to keep our work focused on the people right here in the hills who know the land best.