Small-scale industries voice concern over mandating BIS certification

In a significant meeting held by Laghu Udyog Bharati at Phagwara, industry stakeholders voiced serious concern over the Central Government’s directive mandating BIS certification for various industrial products, including grey iron casting. The meeting, presided over by branch president Inderpal Khurana, saw the presence of Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal as the chief guest and Arvind Dhoomal, national vice-president of Laghu Udyog Bharati, as the keynote speaker.

Referring to notification number 24071, dated June 13, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dhoomal noted that the inclusion of grey iron casting under compulsory BIS certification could severely impact small and micro foundry units. “Grey iron castings are highly customised to client specifications and sourced from diverse foundries. Imposing uniform standards on such a varied category is impractical and counterproductive,” he stated.

He warned that the policy risks ushering in a renewed era of Inspector Raj, while depriving small manufacturers of the flexibility to innovate and meet niche market demands. “Many small units lack the infrastructure to comply with BIS standards, which could lead to their gradual disappearance from the industrial ecosystem,” Dhoomal added.

In response, Laghu Udyog Bharati submitted a formal memorandum to Dr Chabbewal, urging him to facilitate a meeting with the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry. The aim, they said, is to present a unified stance to safeguard both micro units and large-scale operations within the foundry sector.

Dr Chabbewal assured the gathering of his commitment to supporting the industrial community and raising the issue at the appropriate level.

The meeting also addressed local infrastructure issues, with Inderpal Khurana informing Phagwara Mayor Rampal Uppal—who was present as a special guest—that the situation has made it increasingly difficult for transport vehicles to navigate the area, especially along the GT Road. Mayor Uppal assured prompt action to resolve the matter.

The event concluded with the ceremonial felicitation of the chief guest. Among those present were IP Pankaj Gautam, Mukhinder Singh, Pawan Kalra, Subodh Sobti, Pravesh Gupta, Rajinder Sondhi, Sumit Sharma, Puneet Gupta, Anuj

Jain and Parminder

Singh Kundi.

Jalandhar