Forging ind uses wall graffiti to showcase its plight

Thousands of employees working in the forging industry have signed  up  in support of a campaign to draw the attention of the policy  makers at the state and national levels.

The forging industry,  which is  among  the  worst-hit due to the  recent global economic meltdown, has been seeking relief to help  save  the industry and the livelihood of its 200,000-plus workforce. The industry is predominantly made up of over 700 units in the SME sector and is clustered around the 3 auto hubs – Chennai, Pune and Ludhiana.

The  ‘Association  of  Indian  Forging  Industry’ (with 161 registered members),recently  launched  the  signature campaign to mobilize support of the work force who have been directly affected by the recurring issues and problems.

Taking  its  appeal  to  a  larger  audience, the AIFI has displayed the signature campaign  appeal  message  and  the physical signatures on a large graffiti wall  at the Super Auto Forge factory premises at Chennai and Press Club of Pune at Pune.

Over  the  last  several  months,  more  than  five  units have totally closed shutters  and  many  others have seen unprecedented production cutbacks. In all,  more  than  50,000  jobs  have  been lost across the nation.

In  early 2008, it was the spiraling costs of steel which left the industry reeling.   As the industry was coming to terms with the effects of the steel  price spiral, it was dealt a severe blow due to the effects of relentless demand slump caused by the economic crisis.

AIFI  has  sought  various measures from the national and state governments which  would  help save the industry.  Key among them are:  more aggressive initiatives  to  boost demand in the infrastructure and auto sector, softer financing from the banking industry and increase in export benefits, mainly DEPB benefits for the forged components.