China faces massive blow after made-in-India rakhis steal the show this year

Last updated on February 14th, 2023 at 01:03 pm

In the wake of the ongoing border dispute between India and China, Indians are boycotting China-made products and leaning towards domestically manufactured goods. This development came in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to the nation to foster ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’

On the occasion of the Raksha Bandhan festival, both shopkeepers and consumers reportedly boycotted rakhis and other products coming from China this year in a bid to show their solidarity towards the Make in India movement. A sharp decline in the sale of Chinese rakhis and other products came as a major blow to China as the country suffered a massive loss of up to 4,000 crores. This year, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on August 3.

Earlier in June, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had urged the businesses in the country to promote rakhis made in India to celebrate the festival this year. CAIT launched the “Hindustani Rakhi” campaign which generated massive success with an increase in sales of indigenous rakhis across the country.

With support from the Confederation, Indian companies and a number of Self Help Groups across various sectors were able to make around 1 crore rakhis in several new designs. Completely replacing Chinese products this year, rakhis were made using all Indian goods. Not only the shopkeepers, but buyers also demanded India-made rakhis during their shopping spree. Furthermore, eco-friendly rakhis made from silk, paper, and plant seeds were also high in demand among the buyers.

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Speaking over the development, CAIT national president BC Bhartia and national general secretary Praveen Khandelwal stated that for several years, approximately Rs 4000 crore worth of rakhis and other products were being imported from Beijing during the festival. They added that an estimated 50 crore China-made rakhis are sold every year across the country generating around Rs 6,000 crore worth of revenue for the sellers. However, with the advancement of the Make in India movement, Indian businesses are pushing for the production of goods within the country. At the same time, Indian traders are planning to launch a “China Quit India” campaign from August 7 in a bid to encourage the sale of indigenously made products for customers.

Meanwhile, talks are reportedly going on between the Indian side and the Chinese side on a regular basis to find a resolution to end the deadlock between the two forces at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.