Agra: In continuation of their campaign against the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) marking on footwear, various manufacturing organisations in Agra have shut down their businesses while staging protests.
Under the leadership of the Fraternity of Agra Footwear Manufacturers, the shoe factories and shops remained closed on Monday in protest against the BIS, with manufacturers and sellers marching on foot through the marketplace. FAFM secretary Sanchit Munjal said that the manufacturers will not accept BIS at any level and will continue the fight at every level.
Kuldeep Singh Kohli, a local footwear businessman, told ThePrint that shoes are categorised as lifestyle products, and the enforcement of the ISI certification cannot be applied there. “We don’t have any problem if there is BIS on the shoes made for the Army or the police, but no such factory production takes place in Agra,” he added.
Agra Shoe Factors Federation secretary Rohit Grover termed BIS as ‘black law’ against handmade footwear industries. Meanwhile, Bhim Yuva Vyapar Mandal president Gajendra Singh said that small factories will not be able to implement BIS regulations.
Vinod Sitlani of Agra Sole and Shoe Components echoed the sentiments, saying that if BIS is implemented, the cost of raw materials will increase drastically.
Also read: Agra police arrest five men for assaulting Delhi tourist during Shiv Parikrama