Made in China colours & sprinklers much sought after this Holi: Survey

Local colour & waterguns' manufacturers facing losses up to 75%

Local manufacturers of sprinklers, balloons and colours in states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and others are facing huge losses as 'Made in China,' water guns, wet and dry colours are selling like hot cakes in almost all markets across India ahead of Holi - annual festival of colours, noted a just-concluded survey-cum-analysis by ASSOCHAM.

Invasion of innovative and fancy Chinese Holi toys and colours despite the union government's efforts to promote 'Make in India,' is making the survival difficult for small manufacturers, most of whom have been engaged in this business for decades and are now facing losses to the tune of a whopping 75 per cent as only about quarter of their products find favour with customers, noted the survey conducted by ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation.

There is a price differential of over 55 per cent between Chinese Holi colours and sprinklers and those made by local manufacturers which is a primary reason for former's brisk business, said Mr D.S. Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing the findings of the chamber's survey.

ASSOCHAM representatives interacted with over 250 manufacturers, sellers suppliers and traders of Holi colours, water guns and other such products in various cities - Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Aligarh, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Hathras, Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Mumbai, Rajkot, Varanasi and others.

Majority of the respondents said that traditional pichkaris have almost disappeared from the markets due to minimal consumer interest whereas Made in China Holi toys and colours, though are cheap and made from toxic products are being more preferred by customers as they are much cheaper compared to those made by local manufacturers.

Many of these rued about rampant use of harsh chemicals like acids, alkalis, diesel, engine oil, glass powder, mica and others that damage the skin badly, together with cheap quality of plastic being used to manufacture low-cost water guns.

While most of the local manufacturers said they only sell herbal colours that are natural, organic and skin-friendly.

Some even blamed the rise in price of raw materials like water-soluble plant pigments and others for slackening business.

As per a rough estimate by ASSOCHAM, each year over 5,000 colour manufacturing units produce over five lakh kilograms of gulal to be used on Holi across India.

Over two lakh kgs of the gulal is consumed across Uttar Pradesh alone as Braj mandal including Barsana, Gokul, Govardhan, Mathura, Nandgaon, Vrindavan and cities like Allahabad and Varanasi in the state celebrate Holi with utmost zeal and have become quite popular amid travellers.

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