In Tamenglong district, Manipur, India, an ARS programme, established by INBAR in 2002, has successfully developed a technology that enables rural communities to produce high-quality, low-cost housing using local bamboo resources. The project uses simple production techniques, which rely on the gradual transfer of weight from top to ground, enabling rural communities to participate directly in production. This not only helps generate rural livelihoods but also alleviates local housing shortages. At the local level, the Tamenglong Bamboo and Cane Development Centre (TAMBAC), a community-based NGO established with support from INBAR, runs the construction project. Other national institutions, which have provided support for the development of housing construction include CIBART, INBAR’s national partner in India, IPIRTI, and the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA).

As the construction programme in Tamenglong has generated large interest from a number of private individuals and government institutions, significant potential exists for up-scaling TAMBAC’s production capacity. Strong marketing links have already been made with both the Uttarakhand and Manipur governments. In addition, there is a large local need for affordable rural housing, with the housing shortage in the North East of India being approximately 460,000 units, with more than 90% of it being in rural areas. The project also benefits from utilizing local bamboo resources, which in comparison with timber and concrete are competitively priced and require minimal technology. This has encouraged rural community members to participate in training (see picture above). Finally, a strong institutional network, headed by TAMBAC, is also in place to develop further market links.