India's Festival Economy
Sivakasi and the Firecracker Industry
How Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu produces most of India's firecrackers, the seasonal and hazardous work involved, and how court restrictions on crackers affected the industry.
Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu produces most of India’s firecrackers.
The industry
- Hundreds of factories make crackers, employing lakhs of workers directly and indirectly.
- Sales peak around Diwali.
History
The industry began in the 1920s; the town also developed matches and printing.
Hazards
- Explosions at factories have killed workers.
- Child labour was a problem in the past.
Court restrictions
- The Supreme Court in 2018 allowed only “green” crackers with lower emissions and restricted barium-based crackers.
- Delhi banned firecrackers in many years due to pollution.
Chinese crackers
Imports of Chinese crackers are banned.
Effects
Restrictions reduced sales and hurt workers, while aiming to cut pollution and noise.
Trade-off
Balancing livelihoods with health and safety.
The green cracker
A Sivakasi factory reformulates its products into green crackers with lower emissions to comply with court orders.
Thinking firecrackers are made everywhere in India
Sivakasi produces most of them.
Key takeaways
- Sivakasi produces most of India's firecrackers.
- Work is seasonal and hazardous.
- Courts allowed only green crackers from 2018.
- Restrictions balance livelihoods and pollution.
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