All sorts of glass articles, including jars, candle stands, glasses, flower vases, and electric wares such as decorative lights, bulbs and every other sort of glass articles are prepared in this city. These articles are painted with vivid colours and innovative patterns. Etching is done on some products to enhance their beauty. Decoration work is also done on some products by fixing other material on them.
Firozabad glass industry broadly consists following types of products: -
Glass artware like toys, candle-stands, crosses, Christmas trees, different fruits, mini-trees, images of birds, animals, personalities, Gods and Goddesses are made here for Indian as well as foreign markets.
Glass domestic-wares: Firozabad glass industry for the last two centuries has been involved in manufacturing drinking glasses, beer glasses, wine glasses, dinner sets consisting of bowls, plates, lemon-sets, pudding sets, etc. in attractive cuttings, charming designs.
Glass Chandeliers: Since the Mughal period, Firozabad has been producing different shapes and shades of magnificent hanging chandeliers. Many innovative designs are made to suit different tastes.
Glass Marriageware: Bangles,
kangans and
karas are made here since ancient period as traditional Indian ladies' wadrobe accessory. Bangles made here are distributed throughout India. Bangles don't get that much opportunity in the international market, since these are a traditional Indian accessory. But still due to globalisation the market for bangles is expanding internationally.
Glass hardware: All types of glass hardware are manufactured here for house decoration and other purposes. Glass scientific and laboratory wares are also manufactured. Since the last few years beakers, flasks, test tubes, containers and other scientific wares are being manufactured in Firozabad.
Glass automobile, domestic and street light wares: Glass accessories for automobiles like light bulbs, mine battery bulbs and other light and sight equipments are produced here for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. For the lighting of urban and rural areas and other utility purposes many glass items are being produced including miniature bulbs and high power voltage bulbs.It is estimated that 6% demand of bulbs is being fulfilled from Firozabad.
Glass beads: Firozabad is known as the world capital for beads. Glass beads produced here are exported to all over the world for use in all kinds of items including clothing, accessories, jewellery and shoes.
The necklace of glass beads worn by this child is said to retail in the UK for 60GBP. Sadly, child labour is reported to be widely used in the glass factories in this town.
Quote:
The Sadar Bazar of Firozabad is not only famous for the clinking colourful bangles, but also for the infamous 'Child Labour Market' where one can hire the children a-la the Roman slave market of yore. Defying anti-child labour laws, the bangle industry continues to exploit the rights of hundreds of children here.
As for the reports of children being hired for labour, the concerned authorities feigned ignorance and even refuted any such practices in their jurisdiction. Source |
Pics by OP | Text Source
1 |
2