Matchsticks were an important part of our everyday life at one point in time. Whether it was to light up the stove, the ghee lamp, the agarbatti, the candle, cigarettes or other items. Gradually, it has been replaced by disposable plastic lighters and the matchstick industry has taken a huge hit because of it. Such is the case in Virudhunagar, a district in Tamil Nadu. For about a hundred years, match manufacturing has been a revenue-generating industry for this place.
In the past, Virudhunagar district used to ship matchboxes all over India. Even though the demand for matchsticks has witnessed a steep decline, the manufacturing of matchsticks is still going on in the Virudhunagar, Sivakasi and Sattur areas of the state.
To meet the shortage of workers, machines were introduced in the manufacturing of matchsticks and matchboxes and the production levels increased. However, due to low demand, it suffered. The cause of low demand is being blamed on the lighters that are imported from foreign countries. Lighters are more convenient than matches and it is because of this, the demand for lighters increased and matchsticks reduced.
In an interview with News18, Pachaniswamy, who settled in Sattur and has been making matchsticks for the last 25 years said that he does not know much about lighters. But he knows that the matchstick production business has suffered a lot due to the introduction of lighters. He added that many families are dependent on the production of matches. Just like the Sivakasi firework industry, the matchsticks are the pride of the workers who are part of the business. He said, “No matter how simple the use of a lighter is, people should come forward to use a matchbox by keeping in mind the welfare of the workers and their families who are dependent on the matchbox industry.”
Earlier, in September 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin urged the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry to impose a ban on the import of single-use plastic lighters. The demand was made due to the import of cheap disposable lighters from China which is giving tough competition to the domestic matches market.
During the Covid-19, the import of the matches took a hit and further suffered. The price of the matchbox was also revised from Re 1 to Rs 2 in October 2021, but still, those whose livelihoods depend on the production of matches are suffering.
Comments
0 comment