Realizing the potential of bamboo, Late Sri. N. S. Adkoli, IFS (Rtd) founded the Bamboo Society of India (BSI) in the year 1989 with the  help of  a few retired forest officers, progressive farmers, bamboo artisans and other stakeholders. He headed the Society till 2012. He travelled all over the world, met individuals and Institutions working for bamboo development, organised bamboo workshops, seminars, exhibitions etc. and created a massive public awareness at the State, as well as at National level. His efforts led to the creation of National Bamboo Mission.   The BSI was the first to be established for the sector development in the country.