Parijatha has always focused on developing environment-friendly products. Our flyash based brick and block making machines are the most successful in the market due to their proven utilization of the maximum percentage of fly ash as compared to other machines in the market. Moreover, they consume the least amount of power, without compromising on performance and efficiency. Due to their innovative features and a robust construction design, our machines consume the least number of consumable parts, and thereby reduce their running costs, while also conserving the environment.
Having a strong Infrastructure can spur the economy and the country into the next level.
The growth prospects in the Infrastructure construction is bound to see a growth in the long term but due to other pressing issues and commitments the government has at present, the inflow of funds is bound to be restricted. So, new investments on capital goods is bound to be restricted. As machinery manufacturers, we have seen a positive growth in the last couple of months, despite the extraordinary situation, mainly due to companies willing to make the best of the various schemes offered for MSMEs by the government.
Obviously, the government’s priority will be health care, jobs for migrant workers, and boosting the economy. Achieving all of them simultaneously is quite a challenge for any country. Having sufficient resources and a formidable war chest can make a huge difference during such times. Unfortunately, India does not have that luxury and has lesser money to spend. Smart management with timely course corrections can help us manage the situation better, but, as I have mentioned, its only “manage” and nothing more. We have wasted a lot of opportunities during the golden years and hope we have at least learnt our lessons that having a strong Infrastructure can spur the economy and the country into the next level.
As mentioned, investment in machinery and equipment is the least and last of the options and therefore cannot expect to see exponential growth. Thankfully, timely and well-managed lockdown measures have ensured restart of the economy due to which orders are already beginning to flow. Now, the challenges of logistics, safe travel and movement of technicians is to be addressed, for which all precautionary measures are being taken at every stage. Moreover, shortage of materials and skilled manpower has thrown more challenges which needs to be managed effectively.
We have taken an innovative step towards making the whole or part process of installation and commissioning done by the customer himself, based on semi-assembled or fully assembled machines at the sites.
Overall, this situation, though unprecedented, is sure to bring out the best in us. Also, we have taken an innovative step towards making the whole or part process of installation and commissioning done by the customer himself based on semi-assembled or fully assembled machines sent to sites, detailed pictorial and graphical representations of step by step installation procedures, simulative videos, online support, programming, remote trial running of the machines, video and graphical aids for operator training, etc. all of which can help the customer install the machines fully or at least partly so that the role of our onsite technicians is minimized, or totally eliminated. This was successfully implemented by us for few customers in India and internationally and will be fine-tuned further considering the new normal we are likely to see in the coming days.
Contractors, OEMs, and financial institutions need to analyze their problems and work amicably together for the mutual benefit of all the stakeholders.
The fact is that a confluence of contractors, OEMs, and financial institutions for the revival of projects was already there, but now the challenge is how each of them is able to understand their problems and work amicably so that it is beneficial to all. However, the role of financial institutions is especially important since they have to provide the necessary relief of adequate funding as per the proposals, in a timely manner. Also, awareness of all the beneficial schemes especially to MSMEs should be highlighted and help in their utilization in a proper manner.
Unnecessary regulations, poor infra- structure, and inadequate government support kills innovation, which India used to be famed for. Thankfully, the Covid-19 situation has given us the opportunity to once again promote our local industry and develop new technologies.
The supply and timely availability of components/parts for equipment manufacturers and equipment, in general, is becoming more and more difficult - thanks to our over-dependence on imports. Sadly, the Make in India remains just a great idea and nothing else. Cheap imports, especially from China, have killed our industry as most found this an easy way out. We have to start producing ourselves in India to serve our huge market and to generate employment. We can succeed in this only if the MSME sector is well supported and allowed to function smoothly without needless hurdles.
Running a manufacturing industry in India is a challenge and the world salutes our entrepreneurs for surviving this hostile environment and the hurdles we incessantly face on a day to day basis. Unnecessary regulations, poor infrastructure, and inadequate government support kills innovation, which India used to be famed for. Thankfully, we again have a golden opportunity due to the Covid-19 situation; we need to promote local industry and technology, impose higher tariffs on cheap imports from countries who covertly and overtly support their own industry to create an unfair advantage by denying our entrepreneurs a chance to even throw the challenge.
The immediate priority for the government is to identify the stressed industries and provide adequate support to them. Also, items which are priced disruptively should be categorized in the negative list of imports and completely banned. Any previous agreements can be superseded based on the current situation. Likewise, exports should be encouraged so that the industry matures and upgrades to the international level. All this, with a range of timely measures and course corrections based on changing situations, is the need of the hour.
