The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : They sweat it out to add glow to myriad occasions at work

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Sunday, Dec 28, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

They sweat it out to add glow to myriad occasions at work

K.Lakshmi

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

All-rounders: Most manufacturers make and market their candles.

CHENNAI: The soft glow of candlelight sets the tone for several occasions from a romantic dinner, birthday party, silent prayer to peace gathering and evenings without power.

Behind the candles are hundreds of people employed in small sheds, who form the backbone of candle-making units in the city. They put in more than nine hours a day melting the paraffin wax, pouring it in moulds and giving shape and colour to the candles, which come in weights ranging from 4 gm to half a kg each. But, making candles with more weight would mean less production. Manufacturers in the city said that they get immune to wax burns and heat over the years of work.

T.M. Abdul Khader who runs a unit in West Saidapet said that it was easy to start such a unit as it required a gas stove and some machinery to make candles. But, the manufacturers must be prepared to work hard for long hours and visit places to market products and withstand competition in the industry.

“I get regular orders for nine months in a year. People buy candles for special occasions and festivals. But, power failure is the major reason for candle sales,” said Mr. Khader. However, frequent power cuts in the city has not translated into profit for the manufacturers as demand for candles also led to increase in cost of raw material.

In most of the units, owners make the candles and market them too.

S. Balachander, a candle manufacturer, said, “I make a profit of 60 to 75 paise on a box of candles priced at Rs.5 each. I would have to cover the production cost in whatever I get from sales. It is not economical to employ workers. I divide time between manufacturing and marketing the products.”

Chennai District Candle Manufacturing Welfare Association president V. Ramanathan said that candles had moved out from being utility items with several types, including scented and decorative ones, available in the market.

However, several manufacturers in the city restrict themselves to making ordinary candles as it brings a steady income and involves less risk.

The use of emergency lights had not affected the industry as several people still depend on candles to light up their homes, he said.

S. Nagoor Meeran of Taramani who specialises in making birthday candles, said that he made birthday candles in innovative shapes earlier. But, the production of such candles had to be discontinued as there was a dearth of workers. “I take home about Rs.7,000 to Rs.8,000 every month. But, I do not want to switch over to other professions as every business has its own problems,” he said.

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