An Assocham study has observed that the Indian market is being flooded by Chinese crackers and Diwali items. The new items are cheaper and are affecting the profitability of Indian artisans.
DS Rawat, the Secretary General of Assocham said, “The market is surging with Chinese products and consumers seem to be making a beeline to buy these attractive and cheap products. Local artisans are facing stiff competition to sell their products”. Rawat also pointed out that Chinese fireworks are entering the Indian market illegally through Nepal, so as to corner a share of the domestic market.
The study also observed that the demand for fancy lampshades, Ganesha and Lakshmi idols, rangolis, crackers and other such items has increased by more than 45 percent, as compared to last year. More than 300 consumers and 50 wholesale retailers in various cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune were surveyed.
More than 78 percent of the consumers said that the Chinese lights are almost 50 percent cheaper as compared to the Indian lights and that they also consume less electricity. A Chinese string of tiny bulbs can be bought in the range of Rs. 40 to Rs. 50, but the Indian-made lights cost Rs. 150.
