But how well and how much do we know what Make in India really is? Following from the panel discussion chaired by Faheem Agboatwala, at the International Technology Conference on 10 December, one can say, very little.

 

When compared to the national manufacturing policy announced by the government some time ago, the current Make in India campaign comes across as just a branding exercise. Taking cue from this, Sajith Pallippuram of Welbound Worlwide said, “Considering the objective of the national manufacturing policy of creating 100 million jobs and enhancing the share of manufacturing in the GDP to 25%, there is little that the Indian manufacturers like us - Welbound, Autoprint, TechNova, Line O Matic, APL Machinery, or Indian printers who export, can do.”

 

The question then is, whether we are confusing Make in India and Made in India, and whether the disparity and ambiguity of the initiative will be more detrimental than beneficial. Multinational manufacturers are under the initiative, setting up facilities in India and this is, may be, creating an illusion. 

 

C G Ramakrishnan of TechNova Imaging Systems said, “It is unclear whether Make in India means that a multinational should be manufacturing in India and selling in India or India should manufacture to sell overseas. According to me, if the Indians are to benefit from this, the campaign should mean Make in India, Make for India and global market, and Made by India plus MNCs.”

 

And what really will give this an impetus? Even today, according to C N Ashok of Autoprint, there is a dearth of skilled labour in India. "Tirupur has approached the government for a grant to train personnel and in return proposed a Rs 2000 crore turnover from the hub. This needs to be replicated in other parts of the country."

 

CP Paul acquainted the audience with the government policies made available for the MSMEs. "The government is ready to extend financial help and the printers should avail these grants."

 

For P Sajith, it is when the unemployed population being given employment opportunities in skilled and unskilled sectors, that the national manufacturing policy will be realised.

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According to the panel, India needs to up its marketing skills and R&D, and create a brand for the Indian made products for the world to reckon with.

 

The panel

CN Ashok, Autoprint P Sajith, Welbound Worldwide CP Paul, APL Machinery Mehul Desai, MOS  H T Hirpara, LineoMatic C G Ramakrishnan, TechNova

Chaired by Faheem Agboatwala