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Sikkim bamboo entrepreneur gets Modi praise in Mann Ki Baat and changes the idea of opportunity
India
Published on 27 April 2026
Modi highlighted her bamboo work but funding barriers remain
Chimi Ongmu Bhutia, founder of Lagstal Design Studio in Gangtok, Sikkim, rose to national prominence after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned her sustainable bamboo entrepreneurship in Mann Ki Baat. Her designs promote eco-friendly products and spotlight bamboo’s economic potential in Northeast India, crediting schemes like the National Bamboo Mission while pointing to ongoing gaps in funding and infrastructure.
- Modi named Bhutia in Mann Ki Baat for bamboo-driven sustainability
- Lagstal Design Studio turns bamboo into eco-friendly products
- She credits National Bamboo Mission support for growth
- Major hurdles remain in funding and infrastructure
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times