Indian Festivals Falling Prey To The Dragon!
An article by Pawan Agrawal No Comments
India is a land of festivals. The belief in spirituality and cultural power has been responsible for enumerating the present socio-economic dimension to our multi-hued festivals. Hinduism forms a majority of India’s population, resulting in celebrating the largest number of festivals and rituals accredited by any religion in the world. Festivals mean rituals. And rituals involve symbolism and symbols have now metamorphosed into a lucrative market.
We are aware that China has revolutionised the import of these traditional products in India, severely hampering the economic status of communities and small scale and cottage industries surviving solely on the manufacturing of these products. It is unfortunate that our Ministry of Commerce has not taken any steps to curb these imports or implement strict legal restrictions on the same.
One such tradition is the ‘‘Rakhi’’, a frangible thread of Raksha Bandhan festival, considered the strongest bond between a brother and sister has not escaped the merciless and dispassionate stamping of ‘‘Made in China’’.
Bulk import of Rakhis from China is the latest silent attack on our economy and people. Here are some appalling figures showing a steady disgrace to the Indian economy.
Year of import Quantity imported
2011 120 kg
2012 76,257 kg
2013 1,29,636 kg
2014 44,267 kg (Till July 2014 only)
As evident from the figures, this import of Rakhis from China, starting with a small trial of a few kilos had escalated to several tons in the very next year and had compounded more than a thousand times during 2013. 2014 imports are expected to be up by another 75 per cent to almost 2,25,000 kg. It is not beyond comprehension how the Rakhi industry of India is collapsing.
These figures are alarming and the Commerce Minister of India, ought to take a strict action on this erratic nemesis. The new Indian government with vested powers of a clear mandate should immediately ban all imports that are impinging our cottage, small scale or medium and heavy industries. Facts prove that there are several industries which are on the verge of collapse with craftsmen and employees in depressing levels of financial distress and predicament.
Coming to the point on why exactly are we using the platform of defence and security to raise our voice on imports of Chinese goods! We strongly feel that the impact of such imports is very disturbing not only for the economy but also indirectly to our defence and security. It is alarming when we evaluate how China is using the foreign exchange earned from India for strengthening its forces to be used against India. China is happily managing to stab India with a double edged sword of cramping our economy and bolstering its defence against us.
I find it difficult to believe why this simple fact which is clearly evident to the common Indian, is invisible to the highest echelons of foreign and commerce policy and decision-makers and experts. It is not only about the industries related to our festivals but about a much bigger conspiracy of China to disturb Indian sentiments and thwart our GDP while our government watches from a state of resilient oblivion.
The following questions need to be addressed promptly:
• What is this ‘‘open economy’’ that is ruining our cottage and small scale industries?
• Why don’t we have well defined Import Policies that do not cripple the our cottage and small scale industries?
• Why can’t India ban or censor imports that disturb our craftsmen, artisans and cottage industries?
As a firm believer in the new government under the influential leadership of Mr Narendra Modi, I am sure that his dynamic team will understand the wider perspective and take immediate mandatory action to frame suitable import policies that help our small and cottage industries and discourage China from dumping cheap Rakhis, Ganeshas, Diyas and Pichkaris and hoodwinking unsespecting Indian people and working against our national interest
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