Tripura, June 07 (ANI): A group of unemployed youth launched Bamboo Enterprises United (BENU), a handicraft workshop and community facility centre, in Katlamara village in 2004. The aim was to be self employed by utilising the locally available Kanakaich variety of bamboo. The village was once a hotbed for militants and lacked proper employment and business opportunities for the youth. These young entrepreneurs provided training to rural artisans to create various bamboo items, including furniture More than 100 people are currently engaged with the project and supply bamboo products in the country and abroad. The Kanakaich variety of bamboo was earlier used only for making police batons. The furniture made of it is quite popular now.