Well, I had been thinking a lot about this for days now but
what prompted me to write today is the MoU between Textile ministry & a
handloom company promoted by none other than NDTV and the anger of almost all
BJP supporters towards it…
What made me think about it was a casual visit to a local
market nearby and while just browsing through the house hold furnishing items
displayed which looked handmade like crochet table covers, jute mats etc, was
surprised to know that all the items were from China. Of course the price was
also very lucrative, none exceeding Rs. 500/- that too without bargaining.
Compare these with any of the ‘Handmade’ stuff we get to buy,
either at the mahotsavs, shilp melas, Dilli Haat, emporiums or the last resort
– FabIndia!
The difference in pricing is humongous! Starting from almost
double to what one can’t even imagine to pay for simple household furnishings…
And if one asks why the price is so high, the simple reason
always given is “It is handmade!”
What
I want to request the Textile Minister, Skill
India people, Make in India people to do is make these handmade,
handicrafts,handloom items available at reasonable pricing to common middle
class salaried people, who want to buy them but end up buying mostly Chinese stuff & keep these as mere souvenirs to be displayed during Diwali time.
Also important is to maintain the standard of items as it is generally
seen that “Made in India” products lack the finish & perfection of even
chinese products despite being costlier. All of us are aware of our typical
Indian mentality of “chalta hai’ attitude. This needs to be countered to make “Make
in India” really successful.
Till
the time this is not done, the ministry's tie ups with NDTV or its allied company will
not make any real difference. The customers will again be the same ‘FabIndia’
crowd who will have another such high priced avenue to spend their ‘hard earned
money’…
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