Another industry, which was once dominated by China and Vietnam, in India has now slowly embarked on the journey to become ‘aatmanirbhar’.
The recent restrictions by the government on the import of raw agarbatti and increase in import duty on bamboo sticks, have proved to be a boon for the industry manufacturing agarbatti (incense) machines in the country. The local production of these machines has increased by nearly three times in the country after the government’s push for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
The industry players believe that the government’s approach towards “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” has played a key role in restricting the import of agarbatti from foreign countries and has led to the strengthening of domestic manufacturers in the country.
The development assumes significance in wake of Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission, under which Khadi and Village Industries Commission would provide locally made Agarbatti machines to the artisans at 25% subsidy. The manufacturers, however, believe that still nearly 70% of agarbatti making machines required in India are being imported from Vietnam owing to its cheap availability in these countries. They said, a large quantity of these machines stocked in Vietnam and China are now being dumped in India at throwaway prices, since the import restriction has been imposed. The manufacturers demand that the government consider imposing higher import duty on these machines so as to curb their import and encourage local production.