GUWAHATI: The presence of non-khadi Tricolours in the retail markets of the state have affected sales of the Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board to an extent even as the ban on plastic flags by the Kamrup metro district administration has had a positive effect in wooing consumers towards khadi.
The Board had in the run-up to the 72nd Independence Day set a relatively higher sales target of Rs 25 lakh given the ban on plastic flags but could manage to produce flags worth Rs 23lakh.
“Till Tuesday afternoon, I presume the sales revenue would push the Rs 21lakh even as there is scope for more proceeds. Sales have been better in Kamrup metro than the previous years. But yes, the presence of non-khadi products in the market has affected our sales revenue. Besides, the 39 Khadi Gram Udyog Bhandars across Assam have not posted the expected sales targets,” a marketing official of the board, told The Shillong Times on Tuesday.
The Board had sold flags worth Rs 20lakh ahead of Independence Day last year.
Asked about sales of flags in other states of the Northeast, the official said that the demand from Arunachal Pradesh is the highest and is catered to by the outlet in North Lakhimpur.
Six different sizes of Tricolour, 4×6 ft, 3×4.5 ft, 2×3 ft, 1.5×2.25 ft, 1×1.5 ft and 6×9 inch, worth Rs 500, Rs 370, Rs 200, Rs 130, Rs 90 and Rs 60 each respectively are on sale at the retail outlets.
Over the past few years, miniature flags sported on dashboards and windscreens of four-wheelers and in front of two-wheelers have become almost a fad, ahead of national days.
“As it is, there is a greater demand for smaller flags manufactured by the Board,” she said.
Retailers of the non-khadi variety have once again come up with an array of “merchandise-like” items, with caps, badges, garlands, bands, et al, having many takers over the past few days. “We believe that such sellers may have taken away a share from the pie thereby affecting our sales,” the Board official said.