Aligarh (UP), High GST rates, pandemic impact and Chinese locks... the triple whammy affecting the livelihood of thousands of workers and traders in the famous 'lock city' of Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a major concern in this election, Voters are looking for a candidate who will lead the lock industry out of recession?
Aligarh's Rs 4,000 crore industry, where lock making is compared to the Mughals, is no longer as strong due to the changing dynamics of the global market.
With Lok Sabha elections just two days away, there is a growing demand for decisive action to save the livelihoods of the estimated one lakh people dependent on the lock industry. And industry insiders say at the heart of the problems are high GST rates, which have led to a surge in Chinese folk imports.
“Due to high GST rates, it has become quite challenging for us to compete with Chinese locks coming in the market at much lower prices,” says Omvir Singh, owner of a cottage lock factory.
Singh, who has traditionally been a BJP supporter, said he would, however, like to give the ruling government another chance in the upcoming elections."I was hopeful that the outgoing MP would be replaced as he did nothing for us in the last 10 years despite relying on our votes as we are the main voters, but for the sake of Modi and Hindutva, I am giving this government one last chance. Give." " He said.
Many small manufacturers indicated that they have been forced to shut down operations due to inability to face competition, burden of high taxes and adverse effects of the pandemic-induced lockdown on their businesses.
Many stakeholders said they needed a candidate who would be able to address their grievances and rejuvenate the prospects of the industry.
Voting in the second phase of elections in Aligarh is on 26th April.
In the fray are outgoing BJP MP Satish Kumar Gautam, Samajwadi Party's Birendra Singh and Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Bunty Upadhyay.Many people in this town in western Uttar Pradesh, once synonymous with public works, were wary of being recognized.
A locksmith unit owner estimates that the workforce has been reduced to almost half.
He highlighted the disparity in tax rates and production costs, which leads to huge price differences that make locally produced locks less competitive than Chinese locks.
He also stressed the need for policies that promote 'Make in India' initiatives, reduce GST rates and address import challenges from China.
He stressed on a government that can reduce GST rates and invest in automation technology to increase competitiveness."We would like someone who can transform our dying industry and bring more innovation because competition is so fierce," he said.
The implementation of 18 percent GST instead of the earlier 5 percent VAT has created many problems, which is also affecting the workers whose salaries have been cut.
Anita, a worker at 'Tala Nagari', said she and her colleagues work long hours for less money.
"Machines are lying idle, demand is low and wages are not keeping pace with rising costs of living," he said.
Anita earns Rs 200 a day by working for nine hours in a windowless, cramped room.Their daily wages have increased by only Rs 50 since 2019, while inflation continues to rise.
“To support a family of seven, most of my salary goes into buying food, but even buying vegetables is a challenge now,” he said.
Despite her difficulties, due to the perceived lack of alternative options, Anita expressed her intention to vote for the 'Lotus' (BJP' party symbol).
His story resonates in the lock industry. While some people like Anit continue to support the BJP, there are others who are demanding change.Anita's colleague, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is one of them.
“Bahu ho gaya ab (enough),” he said as he inserted steel sheets into the rollers, preparing them for the complex lock production process. She wants an option that prioritizes pay increases.
In the backdrop of the elections, he reflected on the challenge faced by artisans like him.
Stressing the need for government support to protect traditional industries like lock manufacturing, he said, “The ever-increasing cost of raw materials and overheads has affected your business."
Aligarh's Rs 4,000 crore industry, where lock making is compared to the Mughals, is no longer as strong due to the changing dynamics of the global market.
With Lok Sabha elections just two days away, there is a growing demand for decisive action to save the livelihoods of the estimated one lakh people dependent on the lock industry. And industry insiders say at the heart of the problems are high GST rates, which have led to a surge in Chinese folk imports.
“Due to high GST rates, it has become quite challenging for us to compete with Chinese locks coming in the market at much lower prices,” says Omvir Singh, owner of a cottage lock factory.
Singh, who has traditionally been a BJP supporter, said he would, however, like to give the ruling government another chance in the upcoming elections."I was hopeful that the outgoing MP would be replaced as he did nothing for us in the last 10 years despite relying on our votes as we are the main voters, but for the sake of Modi and Hindutva, I am giving this government one last chance. Give." " He said.
Many small manufacturers indicated that they have been forced to shut down operations due to inability to face competition, burden of high taxes and adverse effects of the pandemic-induced lockdown on their businesses.
Many stakeholders said they needed a candidate who would be able to address their grievances and rejuvenate the prospects of the industry.
Voting in the second phase of elections in Aligarh is on 26th April.
In the fray are outgoing BJP MP Satish Kumar Gautam, Samajwadi Party's Birendra Singh and Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Bunty Upadhyay.Many people in this town in western Uttar Pradesh, once synonymous with public works, were wary of being recognized.
A locksmith unit owner estimates that the workforce has been reduced to almost half.
He highlighted the disparity in tax rates and production costs, which leads to huge price differences that make locally produced locks less competitive than Chinese locks.
He also stressed the need for policies that promote 'Make in India' initiatives, reduce GST rates and address import challenges from China.
He stressed on a government that can reduce GST rates and invest in automation technology to increase competitiveness."We would like someone who can transform our dying industry and bring more innovation because competition is so fierce," he said.
The implementation of 18 percent GST instead of the earlier 5 percent VAT has created many problems, which is also affecting the workers whose salaries have been cut.
Anita, a worker at 'Tala Nagari', said she and her colleagues work long hours for less money.
"Machines are lying idle, demand is low and wages are not keeping pace with rising costs of living," he said.
Anita earns Rs 200 a day by working for nine hours in a windowless, cramped room.Their daily wages have increased by only Rs 50 since 2019, while inflation continues to rise.
“To support a family of seven, most of my salary goes into buying food, but even buying vegetables is a challenge now,” he said.
Despite her difficulties, due to the perceived lack of alternative options, Anita expressed her intention to vote for the 'Lotus' (BJP' party symbol).
His story resonates in the lock industry. While some people like Anit continue to support the BJP, there are others who are demanding change.Anita's colleague, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is one of them.
“Bahu ho gaya ab (enough),” he said as he inserted steel sheets into the rollers, preparing them for the complex lock production process. She wants an option that prioritizes pay increases.
In the backdrop of the elections, he reflected on the challenge faced by artisans like him.
Stressing the need for government support to protect traditional industries like lock manufacturing, he said, “The ever-increasing cost of raw materials and overheads has affected your business."
