COVID-19 casts shadow over cooler makers biz
| Date :23-Apr-2020 |
By Praveen Vighre :
MORE than 200 cooler manufacturers in the city are likely to suffer heavy losses during the peak summer season as they have shut their operations owing to lockdown imposed by the Government. Vijay Kher, President of Vidarbha Cooler Manufacturer Association, said, “About 95 per cent of our business has stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Though some of our manufacturer have recently got permission for selling coolers on-line, but still the demand is very low due to problem of transportation, hot spot areas etc.” “The peak period of cooler sales is March and April. But all business activities are closed since two months due to the lockdown.
The cooler manufacturing industry may suffer loss to the tune of Rs 200 crore this season. The stock with the manufacturers if not cleared in this season, will not go for production next year. The cooler manufacturers will take at least 2 years to bring their businesses on track,” Kher pointed out. He also added that the Punjab and Haryana Governments have made coolers and fans an essential item and permitted its sale during the lockdown. “Similarly, the local authorities should also consider coolers as essential item and permit us to sell coolers as Vidarbha region is one of the hottest regions of the country. Most people cannot stay in their homes without the use of coolers.
The senior citizens and small children have to be protected from the blistering heat. The temperature which is now in the range of 42 degree Celsius, will certainly rise to 45 pr 46 degree during the month of May and June,” Kher further said. He added that every manufacturer provides direct employment to at least 25 people and the number multiplies with those indirectly employed. Each manufacturer on average sells around 3,000 coolers during the season.
Apart from Maharashtra, the desert coolers of Nagpur are in great demand in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odhisa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan by the name of Nagpuri coolers. Rajesh Avchat, Vice-President of Vidarbha Cooler Manufacturing Association added that cooler manufacturing industry is giving bread and butter to more than 50,000 people.
“Our MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari, should look into the matter and permit sale of coolers at the earliest in city,” Avchat said. Nitin Mahajan, one of the leading accessories suppliers to all leading cooler manufacturers added that the cycle of supply from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer has stopped and it had not reached the end user the customers due to lockdown. “Just 30 days of the present season is remaining. If this period also goes in lockdown it will take another 2 seasons to bring the business back on track,” he said. Coolers are one of most important and essential devices used by citizens to stay cool against boiling mercury level of the city. Moreover, coolers are affordable for all and hence it has become an essential item specially for the Vidarbha region. But due to the lockdown, all the cooler manufactures have closed their establishments in the city, Mahaja further added.