New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on citizens to support artisans from the Northeast by purchasing bamboo products, saying recent policy changes have helped transform the sector.

Speaking during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi noted that bamboo was earlier classified as a tree under British-era laws, which restricted its harvesting and trade. He said a key reform in 2017 reclassified bamboo as grass, easing regulations and opening new opportunities for growers and artisans.

The Prime Minister said the bamboo sector is now witnessing steady growth across the Northeast, generating employment and encouraging entrepreneurship. He highlighted the active participation of women in the sector, calling it a positive sign for local economies.

Modi also urged people to promote bamboo products as gifts, saying such efforts would support local artisans and strengthen the region’s economy.