Apparel Online India Magazine December 1st Issue 2018 | Page 8

MIND TREE
Q-and-A
Like every year, this time too, the serious issue of air pollution is creating several problems in
Delhi-NCR and in nearby states. Having a factory or office in Delhi-NCR or in adjoining states,
have you seen any significant impact due to pollution? Are the workers suffering owing to its
adverse effects? Have you taken any precautionary measures in this regard, like supplying masks
or creating awareness? Have any of your overseas buyers cancelled their trip due to pollution?
Animesh Chakraborty,
Senior Executive Sourcing
and Merchandising,
United Colors of Benetton,
Noida
Severe pollution followed by
festive holidays (Diwali) has
really affected our ‘Time &
Action’ plans. Based on Delhi
Government’s decision, all
printing and dyeing mills were
closed for almost two weeks
(4th to 15th November) and this
has resulted in a big stockpile,
which has badly impacted
the business.
Most of our buyers are either
from the UK or from the US
and with Christmas/New Year
season coming up, they will
go on vacation in the next
couple of weeks. Although
Delhi-NCR based mills were
reopened on 16th November,
maximum number of buyers are
supposed to go on leaves by
the second week of December.
In this scenario, the entire work
of November and December
needs to be complied within a
span of three weeks only.
This is also one of the reasons
why Fall/Winter business in
India is comparatively less
than Indonesia, China and
Bangladesh. Moreover, severe
air quality index (AQI) is also
creating bad effect on health
too. Looking forward to some
serious solution for the surging
pollution in the upcoming year
by the current Government.
8 Apparel Online India |
Sandhya Samuel, GM
– Merchandising, Find
Agencies, Noida
Buyers are regularly getting
the updates about Delhi. One
of our buyer’s planned visit
was cancelled a few days
ago owing to pollution, and
they rather asked us to come
to Europe to meet them. So,
this had a direct impact on
business. Yet another of our
buyers enquired about the
pollution level prevalent in the
city and asked us to provide
him mask during his visit to
Delhi-NCR.
On the other hand, quality
controllers are avoiding
to go outside for factory
visit… everybody wants to
stay in office. Since some of
the factories, especially in
Ghaziabad, have remained
closed due to pollution, there
has been a delay in production
as a result of which shipments
are under pressure. We have
informed the buyers about this
delay and have asked them to
give us more time.
Pawan Arya,
VP – Operations, Orient
Craft, Noida
We are facing this pollution
issue from past many years
and it has regular impact every
year. We give masks to each
and every worker. For workers
who are not willing to wear
these masks, we make them
aware about the health issues
that they might face in future.
Post-Diwali, we have noticed
very high absenteeism due to
throat chocking and mild fever
issues amongst our workers and
staff. Our customers did visit us
with a fear of pollution level but
none of them cancelled their
plan due to this. Just a few days
back, we organised a health
check-up camp in which expert
doctors examined workers’ to
check their hypertension level,
condition of bones, chest and
lungs. At Orient Craft, we are
very concerned about the good
health of our workers and initiate
regular and free health check-
up camps from time to time.
Lokesh Parashar,
Director, Adkindia LLC,
Delhi
Of course, pollution is creating
problems and impacting
business too. A few days back,
I received an email from my
Panipat-based supplier that due
to growing pollution, factories
will remain closed for a few
days. So, my sampling, as well
as my shipment, got delayed by
at least 15 days. And I can’t say
how it will take shape further.
Probably buyers might cancel
orders as they need delivery
exactly on time. So, difficulties
are getting piled up because of
such environmental damage.
DECEMBER 1-15, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com
KC Biswas,
Senior Manager, HR &
Compliance, Kavita
Women Wear (Lakshita),
Noida
Our company is already
providing buses to our workers
so that they can have
comfortable means of transport
to come and go from the
factory. Masks were already
given to them long time back
and they use it properly, so
I have not come across any
impact that our workers faced
due to pollution. Despite that,
we have also guided our
workforce about pollution. From
the last few months, we are
focusing more on health and
safety issues and giving training
for the same so that workers
become more aware and are
safely away from hazards.
I must say that as a whole,
the workforce of the garment
industry, which is majorly
migratory, is mentally and
even physically prepared for
such challenges.
Ramesh Verma, MD,
Diamond Exports, Panipat
We are running the business as
usual and have not faced any
adversity owing to pollution.
I must appreciate the local
administration too which has
created awareness in different
villages to prevent farmers from