THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Hajipur is a town in Bihar, India that has become important for making shoes. A company called Competence Exports started there and now exports 1.5 million pairs of shoes worth Rs 100 crore every year. The company plans to increase exports by 50% next year.
The factory makes safety shoes for the Russian army and designer shoes for European markets. These safety boots are known for being lightweight, slip-resistant, and able to work in very cold weather like -40 degrees Celsius.
About the Workers
The company has 300 employees at the facility, with 70% being women. The company started the Hajipur facility in 2018 with the goal of creating local jobs.
India’s Leather Business
India exports leather products worth $5.5-6 billion every year. This successful leather industry grew after economic changes in the 1990s when foreign companies started investing in India.
What We Don’t Know
The reports about this successful factory tell us about business achievements. But they don’t tell us:
1. What happened to local shoe makers who were working before 2018?
2. Did traditional leather workers get jobs in the new factory?
3. How did this change affect families who made shoes the traditional way?
Why This Matters
In Bihar, caste and community identity are very important. Since shoe making has traditionally been done by Chamar caste, the new factory likely affects these group. But there is no information available about the impact.
In India, people’s jobs were often connected to their caste. The Chamar people traditionally worked with leather. Other people looked down on them because of this work.
After 1990, India opened its markets to foreign companies. Big companies with lots of money started leather factories. These factories use machines to make shoes quickly. They use chemicals instead of old methods.
What This Shows Us
The Hajipur shoe factory shows that:
1. Small towns in India can compete in world markets
2. Modern factories can create many jobs
3. Companies can succeed by making products for other countries
However, when we talk about business success, we should also ask what happened to people who were doing similar work before. Complete stories about development should include everyone affected by changes.
But it doesn’t tell us:
1. What happened to local shoemakers?
2. Did traditional leather workers get factory jobs?
3. Are people from different castes working together?
4. What do the workers think about the changes?
This is important information that we need to understand the full story.
Conclusion
The Hajipur factory is clearly successful in business terms. It creates jobs and brings money to the area. But to understand the full impact of such development, we need more information about how it affects traditional workers and local communities.
More research would be needed to understand the complete social and economic impact on traditional leather workers and local communities.
References
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/bihar/news-russian-army-marches-in-made-in-bihar-military-boots-hajipur-european-markets-exports-agricultural-prowess-russia-ukraine-war-2024-07-15-941969
2. Made in Bihar: Hajipur Facility makes boots for Russian army https://timelinedaily.com/business/made-in-bihar-hajipur-facility-makes-boots-for-russian-army
3. https://myind.net/Home/viewArticle/bihars-hajipur-emerges-as-a-key-exporter-of-safety-boots-for-russian-army
