Recently, India has been experiencing prolonged heatwaves, with temperatures in New Delhi approaching 52 degrees Celsius.
This rare extreme heat has brought serious disasters to the Indian people and plunged the country's manufacturing industry into unprecedented difficulties.
Prime Minister Modi's "Make in India" strategy once garnered significant attention.
However, the scorching weather has poured cold water on this ambitious goal, leading people to question: Can India truly become the next world factory?
With record-breaking high temperatures in India, workers toiling on production lines have to face harsh realities: the working environment under such heat is not only intolerable but also directly affects productivity.
Under the scorching sun, the roar of machines in factories intertwined with the sweat of workers presents a heartbreaking scene, raising concerns about the prospects of India's manufacturing industry.
The rise of India's manufacturing industry is undoubtedly a bright spot on the global manufacturing map.
Ranking third globally in car sales, witnessing a significant growth in smartphone exports, and a continuous increase in steel production—all these achievements seem to showcase India's emergence as a vital center of global manufacturing.
However, the arrival of high temperatures, like a sharp pair of scissors, ruthlessly cut off this upward trend.
One of the most direct impacts of the high temperatures is the shortage of hydroelectric power.
Many factories in India rely on hydroelectric power, but the scarcity of water resources due to the high temperatures has left hydroelectric power stations struggling to operate.
The shortage of electricity not only halts production lines in factories but also paralyzes the manufacturing industry.
Under high temperatures, electrically dependent machinery frequently malfunctions, severely affecting productivity.
What's worse, the high temperatures lead to frequent worker absenteeism, adding pressure to the production lines.
Workers have to choose to take leave to avoid serious illnesses like heatstroke, further burdening the production lines.
To fill the gaps, factories have to increase costs by hiring temporary workers or working overtime, undoubtedly raising production costs and reducing competitiveness.
In addition to water and power shortages and worker absenteeism, high temperatures also severely affect India's logistics and supply chains.
With decreased transport capacities via roads and railways due to high temperatures, goods are more prone to damage or spoilage during transit.
This makes the already complex supply chains more fragile, increasing operational risks for businesses.
Power shortages and electricity theft exacerbate India's energy crisis. Some areas resort to unauthorized power connections due to insufficient electricity supply, increasing safety hazards and worsening the tense situation of power supply.
This vicious cycle deepens the plight of India's manufacturing industry.
Meanwhile, China's manufacturing industry has shown strong resilience. Benefiting from suitable climatic conditions and robust industrial infrastructure, China's manufacturing industry has not been greatly affected by extreme heat.
In recent years, China's manufacturing industry has maintained rapid growth, not only occupying an important position in the global market but also becoming a crucial engine driving China's economic development.
This heatwave crisis not only raises concerns about the future of India's manufacturing industry but also prompts a global reassessment of the manufacturing landscape.
India was once expected to become a rising star in manufacturing, but it appears lackluster in this crisis.
In contrast, China, with its climatic advantages and robust infrastructure, has demonstrated a more steady pace.
India's high-temperature weather poses unprecedented challenges to the manufacturing industry and prompts the global community to rethink the future of manufacturing.
India needs to reexamine its manufacturing strategy while dealing with the high-temperature crisis and explore new development directions.
In today's globalized world, every country needs to find its position and value on the global stage. For India, finding new opportunities and challenges in this crisis will be a crucial task for future development.
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