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Firecracker sales drop 40%, makers seeks policy from Centre
Kolkata, Nov 6 (IANS) Amid jitters in the Rs 20,000-core pan-India firecracker market in the wake of a Supreme Court order imposing stringent rules on their sale and use, its manufacturers and sellers in the country are witnessing a 40 per cent slump in sales during the ongoing festive season, officials said on Tuesday.
They also sought a comprehensive policy on firecrackers and a guideline for manufacturing “green crackers” from the Central government.
“The all-India market for firecrackers is pegged at Rs 20,000 crore annually. This year, sales across states so far are down by at least 40 per cent as compared to last year. We honour the Supreme Court verdict. It is good for environment but the market has become chaotic after the ruling,” National Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders Praveen Khandelwal told IANS.
Elaborating further, he said the firecracker business is seasonal in nature, with Diwali sales contributing about 80 per cent of entire annual sales.
“Considering this seasonality, it wreaks havoc for the industry as livelihood of lakhs of people is associated with the industry,” he said.
He said firecracker manufacturers and traders have urged the apex court for relaxations for this year only but no response has been received.
The apex court had refused to prohibit bursting of crackers on Diwali and permitted their sale and use with reduced emission and decibel levels for two hours — from 8 p.m to 10 p.m. The court also allowed southern states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to chose the time for bursting firecrackers during Diwali subject to the limit of two hours.
Echoing Khandelwal, Sara Bangla Atasbazi Unnayan Samity’s Chairman Babla Roy told IANS: “There has been a two-hour window for bursting of firecrackers. With this stringent rules, our sales in terms of volumes have been impacted significantly. Volumes are down by 40 per cent on an average, as customers are buying less compared to volumes they would have bought without any time limit on bursting those.”
The court also clarified that direction on bursting of green crackers was limited to Delhi and its adjoining areas and was not applicable to the rest of country.
“About Rs 500 crore of stocks in Delhi-NCR region become redundant with the apex court’s green crackers ruling. Neither we are able to transport it to other states within such a short span of time, nor we are able to come up with green products as no definition of green crackers is available with us,” Khandelwal said.
“Firecracker manufacturers and sellers urged the Central government to come up with a comprehensive policy on firecrackers providing a proper guideline to make green crakers,” he added.
Speaking on the Chinese imports of firecrackers, Khandelwal said domestic manufacturers have been putting a pan-India campaign against the import from the neighbour, which result in a check in the market but still the size of imported Chinese firecrackers is to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore this year.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.