The Indian salt industry is going through a significant crisis, grappling with various challenges that both farmers and workers face in its wake. The lack of minimum support prices is translating into reduced revenues for farmers, while workers are undergoing distress due to the absence of proper wage plans and social security measures.
Status of the Salt Sector in India and Worldwide
India holds the third rank in global salt production, following the US and China, with sea salt accounting for approximately 70% of the country’s total output. Salt manufacturing primarily ensues in coastal states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal Goa, and the hinterland state of Rajasthan. Gujarat leads with over 80% of the nation’s total salt production.
Globally, salt production currently stands at 200 million tons and shows an upward trend. This enormous amount caters to both consumption and non-edible or industrial purposes.
Salt Production Methods
Salt is mainly produced via three methods: the Solar Evaporation Method, the Rock Salt Mining Method, and the Vacuum Evaporation Method. In short, the first one relies on evaporation of salt water in shallow ponds through solar heat. Contrarily, the Rock Salt Mining method involves painstaking extraction of salt deposits from ancient underground seabeds. Lastly, the Vacuum Evaporation method involves evaporating salt brine using steam heat in large commercial evaporators, which results in highly purified salt.
The Salt Sector Crisis
The prevailing crisis in the salt sector originates from two major issues: the absence of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) and inadequate wages and social security provisions. The Indian Salt Manufacturers’ Association has demanded the reclassification of salt production as an agricultural activity governed by the Ministry of Agriculture instead of its current classification under the Ministry of Industries & Mines. The demand for MSP arises due to unseasonal rains and floods. However, the control of wages and production by companies, primarily recruiting migrant labourers, over cooperatives presents a host of issues, primarily health and economic distress for workers.
Role of Government in Development of Salt Industries
Salt holds a key position as item number 58 of the Union List of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution. The Government of India de-licensed the Salt Industry by eliminating provisions relating to salt in the Central Excise & Salt Act, 1944. The Salt Commissioner’s Organization facilitates the overall growth and development of the industry domestically. However, to resolve current challenges, there is a requirement for a separate nodal agency with common rules and regulations regarding salt production. Also, minimum wages and social security must be ensured with a uniform policy across the country.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQs)
In 2015, a question was asked: “Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?” The options were V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, C. Rajagopalachari, K. Kamaraj, and Annie Besant, with C. Rajagopalachari being the correct answer. This march, modeled on the lines of Dandi March, saw Rajagopalachari and over 150 volunteers bypassing the Salt Law by directly collecting salt. National issues such as caste discrimination and usage of Khadi were also addressed during this march.
