Convergence of Industry, Community and Environment
Published in SME WORLD Feb 2015 Issue
We often read about the three
generation concept of first as the creators, second as the sustainers and the
third are either re-creators or destroyers. Amy Chua has also mentioned
something similar in her book and so did Latesh Shah profess in his magnetic
talk on “Let Money Follow You” at the
recent InEXPO organized by Vapi Industries Association.
Manifestation of this thought is
evident in how Vapi Industries Association (VIA) is shaping up off late. This
42 year old association has come a long way in addressing the issues of the
industries and now moving onto larger concerns beyond the narrow boundaries of
their factory premises and business concern. Treasurer of VIA Shri. Prakash
bhai Bhadra said, “Our seniors had the
vision to organize the industries of Vapi under an umbrella organization and
this generation is looking at specific theme – based issues to focus on and
take the organization ahead to newer levels.” Of course they do as is also
evident from the VIAYuwa wing which is mentoring the GenNeXt Young Entrepreneur
Group.
SME WORLD had the pleasant
opportunity to visit Vapi and attend the prestigious InExpo conducted truly on
a national scale. 205 stalls adorned the event located inside air-conditioned
tents. The event was well organized with ample space for the crowd to move
around and check the display. A food court was centrally located for the
visitors and a fire brigade as well as ambulance was on standby for any
emergency. The preparedness is quite apparent. Such events are common in the
metros but observing the same in a city like Vapi tucked inside Southern
Gujarat is highly commendable. The entire event was held on the sprawling
grounds of VIA. Organizers stated that 200 people were working relentlessly to
make the event successful for a period of more than a month.
In the backdrop of this Expo,
SMEWORLD had a detailed discussion on wide range of activities of the
association with the current office bearers of VIA – President Shri. Sharadbhai
Thakar, Vice President Shri. Chaitanbhai Shah and Treasurer Shri. Prakash bhai
Bhadra who were extremely courteous and patiently answered the queries while
sharing their wisdom and vision.
Shaping of VIA
VIA was setup
in 1971 by a small group of people from Mumbai. Affected by Datta Samant’s detrimental
union activities, people were slowly shifting their businesses to the city
which was not far from Mumbai but geographically detached from the state. Vapi
is a chemical zone involved in manufacturing paints, pigments, dyes, pesticides,
bulk drugs, textiles, pharma, API, speciality chemicals etc. Today Vapi is at a
fully-grown state, growing even during the recession period. They are
contributing a lot to exports. Rs. 6 – 8000 crores worth of goods are exported
every year. Pharma, pigments and pesticides are exported even to China. VIA presently
has 963 members representing 1700 units. Around 60 – 70 large, 100 -130 medium,
1000 odd are small scale and rest micro. The association is totally
self-funded.
Present Labor Union Scenario in Vapi
When you talk of people shifting
to Vapi due to union issues, SME WORLD asked if there are labor issues now in
Vapi. “Labor issues are negligible. There
is no political interference due to the sheer strength of the organization.
Wherever there are unions, the existence is highly constructive and not at all
detrimental or destructive. If required the association intervenes to ensure
that both parties are benefitted”, explained Sharadbhai Thakar.
Changing Focus of the Association
“In the beginning years, the focus was on building infrastructure,
relaxation of norms, issues affecting new entrepreneurs, taxation and policies
of government. Then in the 90s it was concentrating on globalization and how to
succeed in the changing environment either by adaptation or innovation,”
said Sharadbhai.
Addressing the Pollution Challenge
We could not resist asking the imperative question of why Vapi’s
reputation was shadowed by its pollution concerns for a long time. Sharadbhai
explained, “We had lot of pollution
issues from 1992 to 1997. In 1986, the comprehensive environment act came into
force but people were largely ignorant and lacked adequate knowledge about
pollution, factors and technology that can help control effluent or still
better – treat them before releasing into the environment. They were unaware on
what it would do the environment, water, soil or air and how it can affect our
lives. There were misconception and ignorance which had a combined effect on
the environment. Here the association worked hand in hand to educate people,
explain the issues to officials and started creating a framework to improve the
ecology of Vapi.”
From 1999 hazardous waste was collected, treated and disposed on a 28
acre land. Today, Vapi has a common effluent treatment plant (CETP).
Underground drainage system helps manage 55 Mn Liters/ Day. The CETP is a
company formed under the association to operate it. So how does this CETP
sustain financially? Sharadbhai said, “The
members paid for the capital costs and now bear the operating expenses too.”
What a judicious sense of addressing an issue in an exceptional way.
Leading VIA
We asked Sharadbhai how he
manages and the leadership of the association. He humbly responded, “It is the team which is leading not an
individual. We work like a government with specific sub-groups entrusted with
the role of overseeing difference t areas. How do you think I am able to sit
and have such an elaborate discussion with you in the midst of this huge expo?”
VIA’s Focus Areas
What are the activities of this
association? “We meet once a month to
discuss our activities and circulate regular communication of changes in the
business environment to our members. We organize study tours to various
countries. In April, we are going to Europe to visit some factories there. VIA
has a Center of Excellence which has a library, R&D center, and hold
regular skill development seminars, workshops and conferences.” stated Sharadbhai.
VIA is dedicated to Karyakarta
Nirman by imparting knowledge through training, explaining step-wise processes.
Women are also invited to see what is happening in their husband’s business. Skill
development is a prime initiative of the association.
A Rozgar Mela organized every 3
months has yielded good results for creating a bridge between business owners
and skilled job seekers. Prakashbhai says, “I
have myself hired ITI’s from these mela for my company.”
Broadening Horizon, Evolving Role of VIA in Vapi
A striking feature observed in this
association is that they not just concerned about themselves, their business
and the city but broadened their horizon. VIA has a Sanjeevani Yojna providing
Rs. 30 lakhs worth of support to alleviate the problem of malnutrition in some
areas of Valsad. A Hum project is delivering nutrition kits to pregnant mothers
and new born children. Blood donation camps are also held regularly. As
Sharadbhai says, “Association should work
for the society at large. We have to look into education and the environment
from where we earn our livelihood and prosper.”
Prakashbhai shares, “From 2003, VIA’s concentration is centered
on the need for world-class environment in the overall city. People are shifting to reside in Vapi
instead of commuting three days a week from say Mumbai to run their business.”
Vapi is being redesigned by GIZ,
German, CEPT, local architects and the industries along-with the government. VIA
is working closely with GIDC and other government departments for good roads,
storm water drains and increasing the green coverage and use of green
technology in the city with Green Global Vapi drive. Parks, gardens and
washrooms are being built to decorate the city landscape. The vision today is
to reduce, recycle and reuse waste at the source.
A tree plantation initiative is
also managed like a business. The association has got 20000 trees planted.
Usually such drives end with the planting of trees. Here is where VIA has a
different approach. They have enlisted the help of an agency to ensure that the
trees survive or plant new ones in place of those which died. Sharadbhai calmly
states, “Survival rate is 70% and we have
the data to prove our claim. We take up initiatives which we believe in and
then put our 100% into it for results and not just gimmick!”
There is a Rs. 22 crore project
for disaster management center to tackle accidents and calamity.
Vapi Banse Vrundavan is another
stellar initiative in this city. The industrialists believe that they owe their
success to the city and it should resemble God’s abode. This shows the level of
maturation of the industries from insular matters like profit and return on
investment. The association hopes that Vapi will soon be one of the Smart
Cities of India with all the amenities and a healthy standard of living.
Going by the adage of healthy
body, healthy mind a sports complex for industrialists, employees, workers and
their families is being envisioned by VIA. People should not end up in wasteful
activities for the want of avenues to be more healthy, fit and constructive.
Prakashbhai reiterates, “The complex is
again a step towards sustainable growth and environment.”
The continuous evolution of VIA can be
attributed to their relentless pursuit in looking for avenues to address and
surge ahead. Today VIA is a force to reckon with and the Gujarat government
recognizes their contribution to industry and society. As Latesh Shah said in
his talk, “problems are in the corners and people tend to settle down allowing
their Indriyas to become numb.” After the invigorating discussion with the forbearers
of VIA, I am convinced that these are the people who are thriving by remaining
unsettled and continuously trying to innovate and improve. And truly
celebrating the life of conducting business.
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We were shown around the Expo by the Treasurer
of VIA Shri. Prakash bhai Bhadra. The scale of the expo is truly
vibrant. Prakash bhai explained, “We wanted a proper theme-based
approach and not just another expo. The stalls were also designed to exert
the same message“
There were stalls by a
wide range of product and service providers.
Thermax,
Ricoh, Industrial Safety Products, Pumps
and Valves by KSB, Elecon, Filters by Elcom, LED companies like Maxlit from
Mumbai, Interior Design firms from Mumbai, Zero-waste generating commercial
complexes, Testing Equipments like Fischer Scientific, Technology solutions
for Security, Pest Control, Finance etc.
Seminars on both technical areas as well as
motivational topics were organized during these days. Visitors were given a
chance to listen to some of the well – known names like Shiv Khera, Kaajal
Oza Vaidya (a prominent woman writer), Gujarati columnist Jauy Vasavada,
Radhakrishnan Pillai of the Corporate Chanakya fame and Latesh Shah of the
World Human Development Center.
Technical seminars on waste and energy
management as well as EHS were conducted for the surrounding industries.
More than 250 personnel attended these events who are actually managing the
activities in their company.
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