We are excited to announce that Learnitude Technologies is now Quocent. In Malaysia, we will be Quocent Sdn. Bhd. and India – Quocent Pvt. Ltd. We got approval from concerned authorities to rename to QUOCENT from Learnitude Technologies.
The main objective of behind the name change is to revamp the company and follow the path of new technologies at a pace to help our clients and business partners. The vision of the company is described in the following lines that include the faster growth, adoption of new technologies and fulfil ethical responsibilities.
In this fast-changing world of technology, the limit has a liquid definition. Quocent is committed to exploring the vast expanse of knowledge in technology to fulfil its ethical responsibility to levitate and leverage the society towards a more connected and accessible world, where limits will only be a national reality.
Our international headquarter is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia whereas our global technology and development centre is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha state, India. We have been delivering turnkey solutions to our clients across the SEA region and other parts of the world.
Quocent has been recognized by the Odisha government, many industry bodies like the World Trade Center in India. Whereas in Malaysia, our services & commitment accolade by both governmental and private organization. Both the companies – India & Malaysia – have been performing and helping SMEs, MSME, companies & industries by developing innovative software solutions. We have developed many robust solutions, and recently joined hands with our business partner to deliver COVID-19 mobile app for the Malaysian government.
Saswat Kumar Panda is the CEO & Director of Quocent Sdn. Bhd. and is the CEO & Managing Director of Quocent Pvt. Ltd., he has been guiding the business leaders, stakeholders and staff to deliver the best to help our business in the path of digital transformation. Under his able leadership, the company is able to add many feathers to its wings and modern world-class solutions to its solutions portfolio. Saswat is a mentor to many startups and providing handholding support to budding entrepreneurs & technology enthusiasts.
It is the beginning with the name change, but our vision is the big one – to deliver solutions and help fulfil our ethical responsibilities. We are working for a better digital environment that gives a room for innovation and sustainable growth to business as well as to society. Our new website is www. quocent.com.
Power distribution companies across states are in bad shape. According to recent audit reports, DISCOM losses have grown bigger than the earlier estimate. Data from the Ministry of Power’s (MoP) payment ratification and analysis portal (PRAAPTI) showed that 65 DISCOMS owed 197 power generators ₹1.199 trillion in overdue payments (Up by 5.33% vis-à-vis May’20). Nearly ₹905.77 billion at the end of March 2020.
Among these, Rajasthan had the highest overdue payment at ₹349.37 billion. Tamil Nadu had the second-highest amount of overdue payment at ₹175.29 billion, of which ₹149.11 billion has been overdue for over 60 days. Uttar Pradesh was at the third spot with overdue payments of ₹144.09 billion, of which ₹104.85 billion has been overdue for more than 60 days. (Source: PRAAPTI portal)
Among the southern states, Tamil Nadu’s position is most stressed. The worrying fact is that the state payables are pilling month over months and not giving any respite to generators. The state has not revised the tariff for many years despite the power debt situation going out of control. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) owes more than Rs 6,000 Crs to Interstate Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Few of the IPPs have written letters to TANGEDCO for encashing the Letter of Credit (that has been provided after MoP’s intervention last year July) if payment is not released to them promptly.
DISCOMs are currently facing a range of issues such as operational inefficiency, unrealistically low tariffs and sharp fall in industrial power demand which is affecting their ability to pay power suppliers on time putting huge financial stress on generators.
PRAHAR (Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Redressal), an NGO dedicated to finding solutions for problems of the helpless has congratulated Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for coming up with the new progressive draft of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 and has urged the government of India to fast track its approval and implementation. EIA 2020 if approved in its current form will address the three cornerstones of development – environmental and ecological protection, social development and economic progress, and thereby help accelerate livelihood creation at a time when India needs more jobs and fast. It is a bold step in the direction of the PM’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
EIA 2020 is aimed at making the environment impact assessment for the proposed projects more transparent and expedient through the implementation of an online system, further delegations, rationalization, standardization of the process, etc. It will also help in streamlining the process, decentralization, and implementation of various orders of courts and the National Green Tribunal.
Welcoming the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020, Abhay Raj Mishra, President and National Convenor, PRAHAR said, “The new draft Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA 2020 notification is a progressive move. It is particularly encouraging to see that this law gives due importance to the knowledge-based project appraisal process. EIA 2020 can be a game-changer as it gives deserving position to subject matter experts in the clearance of megaprojects thereby paving the way for the transformation of India into a knowledge-based economy.”
He further added, “EIA 2020 seeks to consolidate the incremental amendments to the 2006 notification and operationalise decisions of various courts by establishing a predictable regulatory regime for environmental clearance. This can give a much-needed push to livelihood creation at a time when the world is dealing with its worst economic slump. At PRAHAR, we are positive that the proposed changes in the EIA 2020 will bring development to the aspirational districts of the country without compromising on the flora and fauna of the region.”
The salient feature of EIA 2020 is the introduction of the concept of the economic and social management plan (ESMP). This will ensure that projects which are not conducive to environmental goals do not get clearance in the first place rather than being allowed to start only to be stopped in between. It relies on the expertise of subject matter experts in granting project clearance and will curtail malpractices in the environment clearance process.
The other significant improvements in EIA 2020 include:
• Prudent practices of penal provisions on the violation and strong annual compliances
• Division of the projects among the district, state, and national level to ensure that the entire administration system is justly utilized without anyone being overburdened
• Increase in the number of stages for Prior Environmental Clearance from 4 to 6 to ensure the protection of the environment at each and every stage.
It builds on EIA 2006 which has helped in realizing necessary environmental safeguards by assessing environment impact due to the proposed projects at the planning stages itself.
Adani Transmission Ltd. (“ATL”), a part of the Adani Group, today announced the financial results for the quarter.
COVID-19 impact:
Transmission: Power sector is an essential service with must-run status. Our lines are operating at 99.9% availabilities and there is no adverse impact on billing.
Distribution: Due to lockdown, even though power demand is down due to lower consumption by industrial and commercial consumers slightly offset by retail demand, Distribution business being a regulated asset there is no significant impact on EBIDTA margin.
Liquidity position: The Company maintains enough liquid investments and working capital lines to meet its obligations in FY21.
Because of COVID-19, there was no impact on Transmission business, however, distribution business got affected due to lower power demand from C&I customers which had an impact on overall consolidated performance. However, the Company is also entitled to delay payment surcharge for delayed payment by customers.
Other Key Highlights:
Acquisition of “KhargharVikhroli Transmission Private Limited” from Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. Signed SPA agreement with Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited for the acquisition of “Alipurduar Transmission Limited” in July 2020.
Economic activity in Mumbai is picking up post relaxation in lockdown. We noticed improvement in power demand in July 2020 and accordingly the collection scenario has improved substantially.
Note 1: Q1FY21 Operational Revenue and Operational EBITDA doesn’t include Rs. 330 Cr. APTEL order in favour of MEGPTCL *ASAI – Average Service Availability Index
Speaking on the performance of the company, Mr Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group, said, “We are steadfast in our pursuit of energizing and ensuring continuous power supply across all regions through our assets in India. Adani Transmission is well-positioned to deliver exponential growth and we are working towards fulfilling our nation’s electricity needs and strengthening our position as a world-class utility. Our increasingly sustainable practices will help ensure ESG driven goals, one that will benefit not only key stakeholders but the entire nation”
Mr Anil Sardana, MD & CEO, Adani Transmission Ltd, said, “Adani Transmission has evolved over the past few years from a high growth developing company to a growing cum mature asset operation company with minimal throughput risk. ATL is constantly benchmarking to be best in class and is pursuing focused approached to be world-class integrated utility through development agenda coupled with de-risking of strategic and operational aspects, capital conservation, ensuring high credit quality and forging strategic partnerships for business excellence and high governance standards. ATL is striving to achieve consumer participation and 24×7 quality power supply despite being disrupted by health and pandemic challenges. The journey towards robust ESG framework and practising a culture of safety is being made integral to its pursuit for enhanced long-term value creation for all stakeholders”
Taiwanese tech giant, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) reinforces the vision to deliver an ultimate gaming experience by launching the ‘state of the art’ creation, Zephyrus G14 today. Asus ROG’s flagship product is powered by the latest AMD Ryzen™ 9 4900HS processor with up to 8 cores and 16 threads offering power-packed performance. It comes with a customized intelligent cooling system, up to an RTX 2060 MaxQ GPU from NVIDIA and up to a UHD resolution, Pantone validated 100% sRGBcolor accurate display to captivate users. ASUS India also ramps up the AMD portfolio by adding ZenBook 14, VivoBook S S14, VivoBook Ultra K15, VivoBook Ultra14/15, VivoBook Flip14 and Zephyrus G15 to it.
Commenting on the launch of the novel product, Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer & Gaming PC, System Business Group, Asus India, said, “Zephyrus G14 is truly a breathtaking technological and design marvel from ASUS. Emphasizing on thin & light as our prime focus for the first time for a gaming laptop in 14-inch form factor with such powerful AMD Ryzen 4000 series HS processors will provide unrivalled performance to gamers and content creators. The new AMD Ryzen 4000 series HS processors are a great example of the solid collaboration between ASUS and AMD to take performance a notch higher and boost our audience with exceptional capabilities. We are also building our AMD portfolio with thin & light consumer notebooks with the objective to deliver intelligent edge solutions that enhance work and life experiences. We are confident that Zephyrus G14 and the remaining AMD range will be a raging hit with the Indian populace.”
“AMD and ASUS are driven by the common passion for gaming and bringing high-performance computing to everyone. We are excited to strengthen our relationship to the next level with the launch of ROG Zephyrus G14, featuring our new Ryzen™ 9 4900HS mobile processor, and the expansion of the Vivobook portfolio powered by our latest processors”, says Vinay Sinha, Managing Director – Sales, AMD India. “Our 7 nm process technology and Zen 2 core architecture feature up to 8 cores and 16 threads, making the G14 an extremely powerful machine for uninterrupted gaming, content creation and other demanding workloads.”
Zephyrus G14 Features:
Small in size, huge on impact:
The 17.9 mm thin and 1.6kg ultra-portableZephyrus G14 can be easily carried in laptop bags and backpacks. It’s highly finished Magnesium-Alloy keyboard frame with fingerprint-resistance in a distinctive dot matrix design is produced by a CNC milling process that puts 6,536 precise perforations in the exterior panel.
The all-new AniMe Matrix™ Display
While the team at ROG always strives to furnish the best in technology and performance, this time they have outdone themselves with the cutting edge anime Matrix™ technology that is available on select models. The monochrome palette and pixelated pattern give ita retro feel with surprising flexibility. The patented design is indeed a testimony to ASUS’s spirit of innovation.
Amazing graphics for hardcore gaming
The laptop series besides packing in on some astounding designs also feature realistic powerful graphics via the latest GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q augmented by ROG’s boost up to 1298 MHz at 65W. The NVIDIA Turing architecture accounts for the vivid and enthralling gameplay and streaming ability. The Zephyrus G14 is the first ROG laptop to feature an Ergo-Lift hinge that lifts the keyboard at a more comfortable angle for better typing experience.
The IPS-type panels with wide viewing angles that cover 100% of the sRGB range are framed by exceptionally thin bezels, creating an 85% screen-to-body ratio that makes these screens feel larger and more engrossing no matter what the user is creating, watching, or playing.
Keeping creators in mind who require color accurate displays, the Zephyrus range of products features Pantone validated colour calibrated displays. All display options are colour calibrated right out of the factory.
Features Galore
The revolutionary laptop also comes equipped with a plethora of awesome features such as fingerprint sensor for one-touch log-in with Windows Hello, window 10 Home, fast reliable wireless networking with Intel Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, 14-inch thin-bezel display, dual display output, the Dolby Atmos™, an exceptional 4-cell 76WHr battery, Type-C charging by 65W adapter, and 180W AC adapter
Intelligent Cooling
ROG’sintelligent cooling solution can manage thermal output efficiently while also achieving the highest possible performance levels. It also focuses on optimizing the daily use of their gaming notebooks for performing intensive tasks. By maintaining a fine balance between different aspects of the device, the new generation of ROG device offers a significantly better user experience.
ZenBook 14 is the world’s slimmest 14″ AMD laptop all-metal 14.3 mm-thin chassis that weighs as little as 1.13 kg. It will be available in piney grey colour powered by Ryzen 7 4700U CPU up to 16GB DDR4 RAMcoupled with512G PCIe x2 SSD. It also has FHD 1920*1080P screen and NanoEdge displays with a 90% screen-to-body ratio and supports up to 22 hr battery life.
Vivobook Ultra K15 (KM513), Vivobook Ultra 14 (M413), Vivobook Ultra 15 (M513) and the Vivobook Flip 14 (TM420) are powered with up to the latest AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor and backed by 8GB of DDR4 RAM coupled with up to 512GB of PCIe Gen 3 x4 SSD. The Convertible 2 in 1 Vivobook Flip 14 comes in the Bespoke Black colour and the Vivobook Ultra 14 &Vivobook Ultra 15 come in the Cobalt Blue / Bespoke Black / Dreamy White colours. Lastly, the Vivobook Ultra K15 will come in the Hearty Gold / Indie Black / Transparent Silver colour variants. Also, The Vivobook Ultra 15 or the M513 comes with a Hybrid storage option of 1TB HDD + 256G PCIe Gen 3 x4 SSD. All variants come with the LED Backlit Full HD screen with a resolution of 1920*1080. The Vivobook Flip 14 being the Convertible 2-in-1 laptop and having the touchscreen display.
The VivoBook S S14 M433 breaks away from the tradition with unique designs. Measuring less than 16 mm and weighing merely 1.4 kg, the ultrathin and light laptop can slip into any messenger bag or backpack. The VivoBook S S14 comes with a three-sided Nano-Edge display: 5.7 mm bezel, 14″ LED-backlit FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS panel, 14-inch screen size, and 85% screen-to-body ratio. It is powered by up to AMD Ryzen7 4700U processor and comes with AMD Radeon graphics for efficient multitasking and gaming on the go. The laptop is also equipped with up to 8 GB DDR4 memory, storage option of 512 GB PCIe 3.0 M.2 X2 SSD (Upgradable up to 1 TB), long-lasting 50 Wh lithium-polymer battery, superfast Intel® WiFi 6 with Gig+ (802.11ax) and an integrated fingerprint sensor with touchpad Trusted Platform Module.
Available in four distinctive colours; Gaia Green, Resolute Red, Dreamy White and Indie Black, the audio system on the new VivoBook S S14 has been carefully tuned by ASUS Golden Ear team experts and is certified by audio specialists Harman Kardon to ensure the very best sound for any kind of audio content.
Specifications: Zephyrus G15
Available in two variants in the same Black colour; GTX1660Ti Max-Q&RTX2060 Max-Q, backed by up to 16 GB RAM and up to 1TB SSD along with 15.6 Full HD display with 240 Hz refresh rate and 3msresponse time, and 76Wh battery.
Series
Available channel from 6th Aug
Starting price (INR)
Zephyrus G14 with AniMe Matrix™
Amazon/Retail store/LFR
98,990
Zephyrus G14 without AniMe Matrix™
Amazon/Retail store/LFR
80,990
Zephyrus G15
Flipkart/Retail store
104,990
ZenBook 14
Amazon/Flipkart/Retail store
69,990
Vivobook S S14
Amazon/Flipkart/Retail store
59,990
Vivobook Ultra K15
Retail stores
54,990
Vivobook Ultra 14/15
M413(Flipkart)/M513(Amazon)
47,990
Vivobook Flip 14
Retail Stores / Amazon / Flipkart
49,990
SPECIFICATIONS – ZEPEHYRUS G14
Processor
AMD Renoir R9-4900HS
AMD Renoir R7-4800HS
AMD Renoir R5-4600HS
GPU
GA401IV: NVIDIA RTX 2060 (Max-Q)
GA401IU: NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti (Max-Q)
GA401II: NVIDIAGTX 1650Ti
GA401IH: NVIDIA GTX 1650
Operating system
Windows 10 Home
Microsoft office
Home & Student 2019 (lifetime license)(Selected models)
Display
14-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS-level panel, up to 120Hz, 100% sRGB, Pantone® Validated, AMD® FreeSync™
India’s leading pharmaceutical companies rely on the ELGi ((BSE: 522074 NSE: ELGIEQUIP)) AB series range of oil-free screw compressors, to deliver pure, clean, class “0” oil-free air. With high reliability, consistent air quality, better return on investment, lower cost of ownership, and fast, efficient service support for sensitive applications with moisture content between +3°C, to -20°C PDP; the AB series range of air compressors meets the ISO 8573–1 compliance requirements. In addition, the ELGi AB Series delivers unmatched air quality in line with the ISO8573-Class 7 compliance norms ensuring zero traces of microbial contaminants. With the IS:10500:2012 certification for water quality, the AB series also guarantees the safest pneumatic air for the pharmaceutical industry. The sheer performance of the ELGi AB Series, coupled with its compelling value proposition has resulted in India’s leading pharmaceutical companies replacing existing machines with the AB series, while successful installations have prompted pharmaceutical companies, across the country, to revisit their entire fleet of air compressors.
India’s pharmaceutical industry is forecasted to grow at 22.4% annually, to the US $100 billion by 2025; addressing over 50% of the global demand for vaccines, 40% of generic demand in the US and 25% of all medical requirements in the UK. Dr. Jairam Varadaraj, Managing Director, Elgi Equipments Ltd said “In light of the pandemic, India’s pharmaceutical industry has a tremendous opportunity to play a pivotal role in global healthcare. With growing FDA scrutiny, strict warnings over toxic impurities and delicate pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, the quality of compressed air meeting the highest standards, is of quintessential importance. On the other hand, continuous air supply must be guaranteed, since a disruption can lead to an immense loss of production. At ELGi, we endeavoured to address the needs of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in a new way. The ELGi AB ‘Always Better’ series is a disruption in oil-free compressed air technology, and we’re delighted to witness its growing adoption as the customer’s choice for sensitive pharmaceutical applications.”
Pharmaceutical customers traditionally buy oil-lubricated compressors for requirements below 500cfm (90kW) owing to low capital investments, and conventional oil-free compressors, to meet stringent air quality requirements. The flip side of using lubricated screws is the multi-layer filtration systems which increase pressure drop and cause downtime due to the replacement of oil filters resulting in increased lifecycle costs. On the other hand, conventional oil-free compressors in this range, are normally air-cooled and also face reliability issues and temperature trips at high ambient temperature conditions (above 45°C), resulting in significant downtime and operational losses, in addition to excessive initial and running costs.
The ELGi AB Series is the #Always better choice; offering pharmaceutical manufacturing customers reliability and high performance at temperatures beyond 50°C due to the water injection inside the compression chamber. The AB Series delivers Class ‘0’ quality air, while the water in the closed circuit is insulated with a proprietary material to ensure zero contamination due to corrosion.
The ELGi AB Series has a unique air cooling system which ensures ample condensation of water from air particles, aiding the self-replenishment of water in the closed-loop. This eliminates the need for external water top-up and also reduces the load on the driers and the water management system. The in-built microbial inhibition system prevents microbial growth, across all scenarios of operation, thereby ensuring microbe-free air.
The ELGi AB Series operates with a single airend, as opposed to conventional oil-free machines that operate with dual airends. This results in lower footprint, fewer rotating components and lower maintenance costs. Fitted with stainless steel rotors for better performance, every ELGi AB series air compressor comes with standard bearings for ease of maintenance. Additionally, the AB series range operates at a lower RPM, resulting in less wear and tear of rotating parts, low noise levels and reduced power consumption. Additionally, the low noise levels ensure the AB series does not require a dedicated compressor room and can be placed right next to the application area, thereby reducing costs involved with the build-up of additional infrastructure and compressed air supply systems.
Mr. Rajesh Premchandran, Director, ISAAME (India, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East) said, “The AB Series is a disruption in oil-free compressed air technology, offering pharmaceutical customers a no-compromise, oil-free solution at reduced lifecycle costs when compared with prevailing oil-free technologies. With the AB Series compressors, pharmaceutical installations get the purest form of compressed air with higher efficiency, increased reliability and quicker return on investment.”
Dr D K Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has appreciated the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s initiative for launching the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 ensuring a strong education system for a better India.
The New Education Policy 2020 will promote creativity and curiosity among young minds and will go a long way in transforming our youth into global citizens and will make the curriculum of schools and colleges more skill-oriented, said Dr D K Aggarwal.
In an era where we have an ocean of information and knowledge available at a point of click, the NEP 2020 will help the youth gauge effective knowledge and understand how to think, instead of what to think, added Dr Aggarwal.
Going forward, the multiple entry and exit options available for the Under Graduate courses, enabling the young kids to choose or leave the subjects opted according to their professional career, will go a long way in upskilling India’s youth and promoting them to follow their passion, The would also enable youth to be ethical, rational, compassionate and caring, while at the same time prepare them for gainful, fulfilling employment, said Dr Aggarwal.
The inquiry, analytic and discussion-based learning introduced in NEP 2020 will bridge the gap between Research and Education in India and making innovation and adaption our strength, said Dr Aggarwal.
Furthermore, the emphasis on teacher training in NEP 2020 will enlighten our citizens, produce quality human beings with adequate education for a better India, said Dr Aggarwal.
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) today announced the launch of ‘BharatBenz Exchange’, its new offer to the used commercial vehicle segment. By leveraging its growing customer base and nation-wide dealer network, BharatBenz Exchange will supplement its existing new vehicle sales model by offering an exchange platform where customers can exchange their used vehicles of any brand for new or used BharatBenz vehicles.
Mr. Satyakam Arya, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles said, “As the number of BharatBenz owners rapidly increases, we feel it is the right time to tap the massive potential presented by the used commercial vehicle segment. We look forward to delivering BharatBenz’s superior quality, service and TCO to an even larger customer base.”
BharatBenz Exchange will provide buyers with a carefully-picked pool of used trucks that have undergone thorough quality checks, made available via its nationwide dealership network.
“With BharatBenz Exchange, used vehicle sellers and buyers no longer have to haggle over the right price or worry about incomplete paperwork. Our trained experts will ensure that both parties have the best customer experience. We see enormous potential here to show even more customers the quality of BharatBenz products and services. This also ensures the complete lifecycle of the vehicle is Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, Corporate Communications taken care of,” added Mr. Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President Marketing & Sales and Customer Service.
BharatBenz Exchange aims to provide customers with the best resale value and smooth management of the end-to-end documentation process for optimum customer satisfaction. The experts at BharatBenz will also support used vehicle buyers (both individuals and companies) with a large portfolio of vehicles suitable to their application by providing the right AMC and Extended Warranty options for their range of refurbished trucks. The team will even assist in identifying the right financing partner.
DICV is in the process of digitalizing services to better promote the used vehicle business. Interested buyers and sellers can check the BharatBenz used vehicle sections on www.bharatbenz.com and browse the catalogue. DICV is also looking into tie-ups with leading online Used Vehicle platforms and auction houses in order to reach a larger customer base.
The multiple restrictions on exports of Spunbond nonwoven fabric and masks, and regulation of their prices in the wake of the outbreak of Covid-19 cases since March, has taken a huge toll on the Spunbond Nonwoven fabric industry, an industry association has said and demanded that the restrictions be lifted immediately.
In March, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification stopping exports of Spunbond nonwoven fabric with immediate effect and even those holding orders were not allowed to export. In the same month, Meltblown nonwoven fabrics and masks were declared as essential commodities, and their prices and supplies were regulated.
In May, the government allowed exports of non-medical and non-surgical masks, which are made of cotton, silk, wool, and knitted fabric, but there was no relief for the Spunbond fabric industry.
In June-end, 50 lakh coveralls were allowed to be exported, but the conditions were such that not a single exporter was found to be eligible to export the same in July.
The Non-Woven Federation of India (NWFI), which represents regional associations of Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric Manufacturers and its Convertors said that the continuing restrictions on exports of Spunbond nonwoven fabrics and various types of masks are hurting the local industry. It also demanded that restrictions on exports of 3 Ply surgical masks and N95 masks be scrapped.
The Federation said that in case of concerns about the availability of fabric for PPE kits and masks, the government can reserve 50% of the nonwoven fabric production for domestic consumption, and allow exports of the remaining 50%.
“The DGFT on July 13 allowed exports of nonwoven fabric other than 25-70 GSM (gram per square metre) while continuing to prohibit exports of the fabric of 25-70 GSM. However, the majority of the demand is for the fabric of 25-70 GSM. This policy of partially lifting of a partial ban on nonwoven fabric exports does not make sense as there is no differentiation in manufacturing facilities on the basis of GSM. Manufacturers can make the fabric of GSM ranging from 10 to 200 in the same plant,” said Suresh Patel – President of NWFI.
The production of Spunbond nonwoven fabric is 5,200 metric tonnes per month, which is 12.6% of the total capacity of 41,350 metric tonnes. Similarly, capacity utilization of 3 ply surgical masks and N95 masks is just 18% of the total monthly installed capacity of 7,698 lakh pieces.
“These figures show that the country is self-sufficient in Spunbond nonwoven fabric and surgical mask requirements. Hence, the restrictions on their exports do not make practical sense,” said Suresh Patel – President of NWFI, adding that before the ban was imposed in March, the capacity utilization was 90%, and the products were being exported across the world.
“We are losing market share in the international market because of the curbs,” said Suresh Patel – President of NWFI.
The Spunbond Nonwoven industry directly employs approximately 6.5-7 lakh people, while the indirect employment is estimated at more than 20 lakh.
The Federation noted that installed capacity is continuously rising due to new facilities, even as fabrics like cotton, polyester, nylon, SMS, SSMMS, Meltblown, and Spunlace fabrics are also now being used as raw material for making PPE overalls and masks.
In separate letters to Textile Minister Smriti Irani and Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Federation demanded that the export restrictions be lifted.
“The government should allow exports of 3 ply surgical masks without any restrictions, while certified manufacturers should be allowed to freely export N95 masks,” the Federation said.
It demanded an increase of quota and relaxation of the criterion of selection based on various quality certifications and also demanded that import duty of all types of masks and PPE overalls be reinstated.
“Weak domestic demand and ban on exports of the non-woven fabric have put the survival of the whole industry at stake. These measures will go a long way in supporting the industry, and safeguarding the lakhs of jobs across the country that are at stake now,” added Suresh Patel – President of NWFI.
The recently released position paper by a Paris-based non-profit, The Union, which proposes a ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in developing nations have met with strong resistance from healthcare advocates and harm reduction activists in these countries.
The Union made its recommendation on grounds that lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have weak regulations and hence it is better to ban smoking alternatives which can lead to uptake among youth. Activists have opposed this view stating it will increase health inequalities between western and developing nations and it encroaches people’s right of liberty to choose safer alternatives to combustible cigarettes.
Samrat Chowdhery, Director of Council for Harm Reduced Alternatives, said, “There is now little doubt in the scientific community that smoking alternatives such as e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful. It is highly discriminatory to propose that while smokers in the west can have access to risk reduction, those in developing countries cannot. This appears to be a colonial, patronizing mindset veiled as philanthropy.”
He added, “LMICs are sitting on a tobacco epidemic timebomb, where 80% of the world’s tobacco users live. What we need are humane, pragmatic solutions that can reduce tobacco-related deaths and disease. Western nations that have embraced lower-risk alternatives are witnessing sharp declines in smoking rates, so their efficacy in combating the epidemic is established. And yet, organizations like the Union want to deny access to harm prevention to people who can least afford to deal with the consequences of tobacco use.”
Public health researcher Dr. Sree T. Sucharitha said the Union position is a case of intellectual bankruptcy. Referring to a de facto ban on e-cigarette research in India, she said, “Such bans affect the advancement of science and research into tobacco harm reduction (THR) and perpetuate unilateral, top-down, unscientific policies which adversely impact not only tobacco users and their families but also the communities intricately linked to the ecosystem.
“THR has a lot more relevance and applicability in LMICs and ideally its focus should be on gendered, mental health affected, disadvantaged groups including migrant populations and others who don’t find a mention in the Union’s vision for LMICs. Developing nations have an equal right to THR and should be at the heart of the global agenda”, she added.
Legal counsel Pingal Khan said, “Discrimination based on economic prowess if a country is against any modern legal framework. Most multilateral arrangements provide more flexibility to the lesser developed countries and not the other way around. If we are to accept this rationalization by the Union, we are effectively implying that citizens of economically weaker nations should have lesser freedom of choice (of safer options in this case) and consequently lesser dignity of life. Therefore, the recommendations of the Union are not only misplaced but are also regressive and appear to have been made with a questionable intent.”