SATISH HANDA
From cent per cent holding before partition in 1947, once famous Ambala durree industry slipped to a situation where it has only 15-20% market share in the country at present since large number of artisans working for large manufactures in the town migrated to other states due to diminishing domestic market as well as lack of export business and rising prices of raw material when entrepreneurs felt that future of the local durree makers is in jeopardy. According to some of the manufacturers, they were compelled to down their shutters due to several factors including rising production cost, non-availability of skilled labour already shifted to other places, shortage of cotton production in the region and above all demand recession as such most of the small scale manufacturers shifted to Panipat in the state and Nakodar in Punjab even labour charges paid by the entrepreneurs at Ambala was 25% lesser at Ambala sa compared to Panipat and Nakodar. All those remained in the town had diversified into handloom and allied products for their survival.
Past scenario reveals, after partition in 1947 between 50 to 60 migrated families started manufacturing durrees at Ratangarh in Ambala district and now left with only a couple of families involved in this business. Old history also reveals, first unit started making durrees at Ambala was started in 1850 by Abdul Wasit and after partition in1947 the first unit to manufacture durrees was started by Buti Ram and his wife Karam Devi at Baldev Nagar in Ambala City making four to five durrees every month on ‘Khaddi’ selling direct to the customers in adjoining areas or in adjoining Punjab state and gradually number of durree manufacturing units increased to 50-60 during the year 1955 to 1995.
When talked to a local durree maker, he said entry of rubber foam mattresses in domestic markets adversely affected this industry and most of the traders selling durrees shifted to sale of carpets and ‘Chattai’as preferred by the buyers as such durree business came on ventilators since there were not enough buyers for purchase of durrees. The durree makers told that the mattresses had cut into durree maket and in the absence of buyers for durrees price war reduced margins to the minimum. They told that getting cotton yarn from Delhi, Panipat and Abohar on cash payment, but offering finished goods on nominal margin, sometimes on credit also made business unattractive and many times a losing game due to price war among manufacturers. Most of the durree manufacturers at Ambala were selling products in Punjab as the custom of giving beds in dowry exists in Punjab villages even today.
Another durree manufacturer in Punjab told that Indian manufacturers are facing stiff competition from China and Pakistan. They told that there was a good market in USA, UK, Italy but due to political instability Indian durree manufacturers are not getting sufficient export orders now. He said, lack of government support, absence of dyeing house or design centre also badly affected survival of this industry as such most of durree manufacturers seeing no light at the end of the tunnel with the situation not expected to improve in the near future the only option left with them was to go in for diversification in alternate business.
