The local aluminium utensils industry needs Haryana government support

In Jagadgri, Haryana, aluminium utensils are falling back in the competition with other low-cost options gaining popularity like stainless steel. This has limited the capacity utilization to 60 percent in the last few years with only a small cluster of aluminium utensils manufacturers amounting to about a 100. Among the 100, most fall under the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) category.

There is an immediate need for the state government to support the industry through subsidies, abolishment of Central excise duty adding the aluminium utensils industry in the exempted category of the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The president of the Federation of All India Aluminium Utensils Manufacturers, Tarun Goyal also said that another deterrent in the use of aluminium utensils are the rampant myths about the health hazards of using aluminium for cooking despite conclusive evidences to the contrary.

"Large multinationals such as Coco-cola and Pepsi widely use aluminium for their beverage cans for safely and hygienically selling beverages worldwide. The use of aluminium in pharmaceuticals and food packaging again negates the myth about health issues pertaining to the use of aluminium.

Moreover, most medicines prescribed for stomach ailments contain salts of aluminium," he added. Government of Tamil Nadu has worked to promote aluminium industry while Rajasthan and Gujrat have helped to protect the local stainless steel industry. It is time the Haryana government to help support the local aluminium industry, according to Goyal.

He also says, manufacturers should not restrict themselves to utensils only but should add more products like containers meant for carrying food.