🧨 The Future of Firecrackers
With firecracker bans becoming the new norm, what does the future look like for the firecracker industry?
Diwali is the festival of lights. A festival that is incomplete without firecrackers, sweets and everything that blings.
But what happens when we take firecrackers out from our celebrations?Â
Thanks to increasing air pollution, the governments of many states have banned the sale of crackers. And it’s not even unfair. It will be no exaggeration to say that doomsday is more real than ever. As we speak, global leaders are deciding the future course of action to combat climate change.Â
But Diwali celebrations shouldn’t stop either! What’s the way out?
Well, in some states you can still celebrate with green crackers!Â
Green crackers are an eco-friendly version of the normal crackers we burst. They produce 30% fewer emissions than normal crackers and also generate less noise.Â
Though, some state governments (like Haryana) have decided that even green crackers can be burst only for two hours!
This may probably spoil your Diwali mood, but it has an even bigger consequence. These bans affect the livelihoods of almost 10 lakh people who are involved in India's Rs. 20,000 crore firecracker industry.
These firecracker bans, which first started in 2017, have caused considerable losses for the industry. In 2020, due to the bans and the pandemic, the firecracker industry produced crackers worth only Rs. 3,000 crores. This year, the output further halved, with the industry producing crackers worth only Rs. 1,500 crores. And because of the new bans, the industry expects losses of around Rs. 500 crores.
These bans are also often announced a month or two before Diwali. So, the firecracker industry never really knows how much to produce. This sets them up for continual losses.
Even in cities and states where crackers haven't been banned, sales have gone down due to anti-cracker campaigns (we are not complaining, to be honest!). And people who are buying firecrackers often end up choosing the cheaper ones that are illegally imported from China. Though the sale of these crackers has been banned, they somehow continue to find their way into the Indian markets.
If things continue like this, the firecracker industry will not be able to sustain itself. More than the industry, it’s the livelihood of the people that is at risk. So, what's the solution?
Government intervention. For starters, the state and the centre governments could decide and announce their policies regarding firecrackers early on in the year. This way the industry will understand the demand for crackers and adjust their production accordingly.
Second, the governments could invest money in the industry so that it can innovate and create better and more eco-friendly fireworks. Greener fireworks may be more widely accepted, and could once again boost sales for the industry.
And until we figure out a way to create less polluting firecrackers, the government could organise re-skilling and employment programs to prevent people involved in the firecrackers industry from losing their jobs.Â
This is extremely necessary, as many people working in the industry are uneducated and don't have skills that can help them find other sources of livelihood. This is especially true for the village of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, which produces 90% of the firecrackers sold across India. Over 6.5 lakh families in Sivakasi are directly or indirectly connected to the firecrackers industry in the town.Â
The firecrackers industry is facing an uncertain future, especially as the world gets more conscious about global warming and climate change. But does it really help the government to announce bans that are easily flouted and difficult to enforce?Â
The chances of success will go up only if the problem is solved at the roots. People will comply only if there is happiness for all and heartburn for none. Isn’t that what the festival of lights truly means?
Wishing you and your family a prosperous and Happy Diwali, Until next time, ReadOn :)Â
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