Bamboo craft in India has acquired a new significance with the international recognition of bamboo as an eco-friendly future material. Bamboo, being one of the fastest-growing biomasses, can replace wood in many applications, thereby preserving precious forests. Bamboo has a special place in crafts. Bamboo has traditionally been used to weave baskets used for storage and other purposes all over the country. A wide variety of bamboo products are used in the tribal homes of northeastern Indian states.

However, bamboo craft, with over 13 lakh craft persons in the country, needs'repositioning' to be part of urban and export markets to offer a meaningful future for the craft persons. In this context, colouring bamboo with natural dyes for craft purposes assumes an important role in creating value-added products from bamboo. Research and training on using natural dyes for colouring bamboo was taken up by IDC as a part of the UNDP-supported project ""Tools, Small Technologies, and Finishes,"" sponsored by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts). Systematic studies and documentation were done using colouring methods. The processes developed by other agencies like BDCI (Bamboo and Cane Development Institute) in Agartala were verified. Tests for fastness of colour to light as well as acceptability for common use were also conducted for certain dyes.