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“BANGLE MAKING INDUSTRIES IN FIROZABAD”

BY

B.H.SOORYA RAO CLASS – XII

ABOUT THE CITY - FIROZABAD

• Firozabad, a city in Uttar Pradesh in India, has been• th famous since 17 century for its exquisite production• of glass works. Popularly known as the Glass City,• Firozabad is located about 240 km from Delhi, the• capital of India, and about 40 km from Agra, the city• that has Taj Mahal.• The city is steeped deep in the culture of making• utility and decorative items of glass. The population• of this city has been engaged in this for generations• and the city has become synonymous with glassware.• Today, it is the premier centre of glassware• manufacturing in India.

FIROZABAD

• Some of the glass products• manufactured are glass toys, candle stand, Christmas• hangings, flower vase glass, chandeliers, bangles,• automobile ware, street ware, scientific lab products,• etc. Firozabad also has an international reputation of• being the world capital for beads manufacturing.• These beads are exported outside India and are used• in clothing, shoes and other accessories.• Engaging in glass works has been a way of life for the• most of the population who are employed in this• profession. Visiting this place, one will surely get• struck by the presence of beautiful products made of• glass everywhere in the city. The whole economy of• this city is dependent on this industry. One can easily• say that if it had not been for glass, this city would• never have become famous.

OVERVIEW OF GLASS AND BANGLE INDUSTRIES

• Accounting for about 70% of the total glass production in small-sector in India, Firozabad glass industry

• is India's biggest glass industry cluster with nearly 5-6 lakh people employed directly and plenty more

• employed indirectly with this sector. The cluster holds a unique position of consisting of Micro, Small and

• Medium units located at one place and being capable of producing a variety of glass products ranging from

• art ware, chandeliers to multicolored bangles , generating an annual business of more than Rs 2000 crore.

• There is a large agglomeration of small scale units in this town, which are engaged in the manufacture of

• hollow wares, decorative items, glass beads, etc. Around 50% of the total produce of these units are

• exported to different countries.

• The Firozabad glass industry has been able to cater to the indigenous need as well as international

• demand by way of producing variety of products. It is one of a kind cluster operating in India. It is the only

• cluster which is producing bangles and catering to the entire requirement of bangles in India. There are

• approximately 150 bangle making and decoration units in the city which provide employment to nearly

• 50,000 families. It is estimated that a single bangle passes through as many as 45 to 50 hands before it is

• transformed from a mere lump of glass into the piece of disposable jewellery.• Firozabad cluster specializes in making a variety of exclusive hand made products. The

cluster has easy• availability to trained and skilled workers. There are estimated a thousand registered

skilled craftsmen• whose generations have been engaged in the skillful tradition of making glassware. The

cluster has the• advantage of having strong work specialization due to presence of specialized units for

each kind of value• addition.

During ancient periods, invaders brought many glass articles to India. These glass articles when rejected were collected and melted in locally made furnace

called as "Bhainsa Bhatti." This was the start of the glass industry in Firozabad. In this furnace, wood was used as a fuel. These old traditional furnaces are still in

use in Sasani near Aligarh and at Purdal Nagar. During that time only small bottles and bangles were made. At this time only one bangle at a time can be made. In

this bangle there was no joint. These bangles were called "Kadechhal Ki Chudi". Since then Firozabad is the home of the glass industry, white and coloured glass

pieces being manufactured for the purpose of assembling jhad and fanus (chandeliers) which were in demand by royal courts and nobles for decorating their assembling and drawing rooms. Later on phials for Itra, scents, and other cosmetic products were made. Slowly and steadily Indian marriage items like

bangles, kangans, kada, etc. were produced in bulk for the general public. Today it is having famous area as suhag nagar because it fulfills almost all the demand of

bangles, kadas, kangans and other items of suhagins (married women).

BANGLES INDUSTRIES IN FIROZABAD

A congested town about 40 km east of Agra, through the heart of which runs the National Highway 2. In the days before NHAI and the Golden Quadrilateral, it used to be a nightmare to drive through this town during the daytime. With over 6 lakh people jostling for limited road space and hordes of them trying to sell glass bangles from pushcarts to eager truck drivers wanting to take back colourful gifts for their beloved, one can well imagine the chaos that reigned on the NH2 through Firozabad just a few years ago.

For reasons unknown, NH2 has not been routed through a bypass around Firozabad, as is now common for most small towns along the highways of India. The only small concession was that a majority of the highway has been isolated from local traffic with barriers, preventing the pushcarts from blocking the highway traffic at random everywhere. Still, driving through Firozabad in the day is a slow process.

This town may not have existed at all, were it not for the unique skills of the people of the region. This involved recycling rejected and damaged glass articles and making beautiful glass bangles. Today, the glass industry has evolved so greatly that it exports its products to countries around the world.

THE NAME OF FIROZABAD:-

The ancient name of this town was Chandwar Nagar. The name of Firozabad was given in the regime of Akbar by Firoz Shah Mansab Dar in 1566. They say that Raja Todarmal was passing through this town, on pilgrimage to Gaya. He was looted by robbers. At his request, Akbar sent his Mansab Dar Firoz Shah here. He landed near or about Datauji, Rasoolpur, Mohammadpur Gajmalpur, Sukhmalpur Nizamabad, Prempur Raipura. The tomb of Firoz Shah and ruins of Katra Pathanan are the evidences of this fact.

During ancient periods, invaders brought many glass articles to India. These glass articles when rejected were collected and melted in locally made furnaces called as "Bhainsa Bhatti." This was the start of the glass industry in Firozabad. In these furnaces, wood was used as fuel. These old traditional furnaces are still in use in Sasani near Aligarh and at Purdal Nagar.

During initial times only small bottles and bangles were made. These bangles had no joint, and were called "Kadechhal Ki Chudi". The glass industry subsequently evolved and expanded to also start making colourful glass lamps and chandeliers, which were in great demand with royal courts and nobles for decorating their assembling and drawing rooms.

Later on phials to store Itra / Attar (perfume oils from natural sources) and other cosmetic products were made.

Slowly and steadily Indian wedding items like bangles, kangans, kada, etc. were produced in bulk for the general public. Today an area known as Suhag Nagar has become famous for these items, so called because it fulfills almost all the requirements of the local suhagins (married women).

Since 1989, Firozabad has produced artistic glassware in different colours and shades used in chandeliers and other items. About four hundred glass industries are registered in Firozabad, making different types of glass products. These nowadays use natural gas instead of wood or coal. Half of the production of these units is exported. Blowing/modeling is done by the Pot Furnace & Regenerative tank furnace in these factories.

Firozabad with the changing time has entered in to new era of glass manufacturing, it has become a major hub of manufacturing different glass based items and has registered its global presence, diversifying its industrial base and encouraging ancillary industries including chemicals, packaging and more of service sector based industries have flourished in a short span of time.

All sorts of glass articles, including jars, candle stands, glasses, flower vases, and electric wares such as decorative lights, bulbs and every other sort of glass articles are prepared in this city. These articles are painted with vivid colours and innovative patterns. Etching is done on some products to enhance their beauty. Decoration work is also done on some products by fixing other material on them.

Firozabad glass industry broadly consists following types of products: -

Glass artware like toys, candle-stands, crosses, Christmas trees, different fruits, mini-trees, images of birds, animals, personalities, Gods and Goddesses are made here for Indian as well as foreign markets.

Glass domestic-wares: Firozabad glass industry for the last two centuries has been involved in manufacturing drinking glasses, beer glasses, wine glasses, dinner sets consisting of bowls, plates, lemon-sets, pudding sets, etc. in attractive cuttings, charming designs.

Glass Chandeliers: Since the Mughal period, Firozabad has been producing different shapes and shades of magnificent hanging chandeliers. Many innovative designs are made to suit different tastes.

Summary of the Units in the Firozabad ClusterGlass Melting Units

• Total number of units : 190• Units not working (Due to shortage of Gas): 33• Entrepreneurs (Owners/ Partners): 540• Investment on Plant & Machinery: 213 Crore• Total Investment: 413 Crore• 3 Total Natural gas Consumption Glass Industry: 950,000 m /day• Glass Drawing Capacity (All Type): 1920 MT/ day• Finished Glass: 1230 MT/ day• Percentage of Finished Glass: 65%• Share of Tableware & Container production: 49%• Share of bangle production: 46%• Share of glass Art ware & Misc. production 05%• Annual Turn Over* Rs. 2326 Crore• (*Source- Commissioner, Sales Tax, Firozabad)

Design & Decoration Units (Glassware)Table Glassware & Art ware:

• Number of Units: 39• Technology: Traditional• Employment: 1165• Total Investment on plant & Machinery: Rs.3.9 Crore• Average Investment on Plant & machinery: 0.10

Crore/Unit• Total Investment : Rs. 6 Crore• Annual Turnover: Rs.33 Crore• Breakup:• Indigenous: Rs.6 crore• Export: Rs.27 crore

Decoration by Metalizing Units:

• Number of Units 50• Investment per Unit Rs.10 Lac• Total Investment on plant & Machinery Rs.4.40 Crore• Average Investment on Plant & machinery 0.09

Crore/Unit• Total Investment Rs. 5.50 Crore• Employment 1000• Annual Turnover Rs.17 Crore

Micro UnitsThese units are engaged in the activities which are post production works of glass

bangles such as banglesstraitening, joining, bangle cutting, frosting, painting, decoration by Zari, Mina, Moti

& heat treatment of bangles

• after application of gold polish, glass color, etc.• Number of Units: 8550• Investment on Plant & Machinery: 13.06 Crore• (Covering all above mentioned activities)• Total Investment : 9.65 Crore• Level of Technology: Primitive with some

modifications• No. of Persons involved: 82,000• Annual Turnover: Rs.221 Crore• Annual Turnover: Rs.221 Crore

Glass Marriageware: Bangles, kangans and karas are made here since ancient period as traditional Indian ladies' wadrobe accessory. Bangles made here are distributed throughout India. Bangles don't get that much opportunity in the international market, since these are a traditional Indian accessory. But still due to globalisation the market for bangles is expanding internationally.

Glass hardware: All types of glass hardware are manufactured here for house decoration and other purposes. Glass scientific and laboratory wares are also manufactured. Since the last few years beakers, flasks, test tubes, containers and other scientific wares are being manufactured in Firozabad.

Glass automobile, domestic and street light wares: Glass accessories for automobiles like light bulbs, mine battery bulbs and other light and sight equipments are produced here for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. For the lighting of urban and rural areas and other utility purposes many glass items are being produced including miniature bulbs and high power voltage bulbs.It is estimated that 6% demand of bulbs is being fulfilled from Firozabad.

Glass beads: Firozabad is known as the world capital for beads. Glass beads produced here are exported to all over the world for use in all kinds of items including clothing, accessories, jewellery and shoes.

The necklace of glass beads worn by this child is said to retail in the UK for 60GBP. Sadly, child labour is reported to be widely used in the glass factories in this town.

Assortment of glassware:-

The owner among his wares:-

THE END