Conceptual model for an Export promot...

Conceptual model for an Export promotion zone for Sandstone export Unit

This paper aims at exploring the potential of a sand stone  export cluster unit to act as an engine of development for surrounding area. The author is working upon the hypothesis that a venture like this can not only provide direct employment to people directly linked to the project, by means of direct employment at the export unit, but also help in propagating wealth in secondary population, that come in periodic contact with the project at different stages. Wealth being used in the most judicious manner, and that it reflects economical and social wealth. The objective of any such project should never be economic wealth alone, because the author very strongly feels for any real, and long lasting change, the social aspects need to be driving force and the economic development can act as a very effective tool for initiating the change at the social level. Let us try and sectionalize our thoughts here for ease of understanding, and start with a detailed exploration of the tool, that we feel can bring about this social change. Before we jump on to the analysis of the financial part, It's of utmost importance to understand the objective of a project of this scale, involving not only substantial financial resources but also command realignment of human resources of the primary and secondary areas. The belief that a project of this scale will not only rejuvenate economic activity in the region, but with careful planning can also be instrumental in bringing about social change. This is the belief of this author that women need to play a very active role in this project, to spread the awareness and knowledge to the next generation. It can be achieved by integrating functions in the core plan which will promote a system of support structure for the population directly linked with the export zone. The intention is to create a complimenting web of smaller nodes, that can grow with the project and eventually detach themselves and create their own identity in a short span of time. In simpler terms, these smaller, but equally important functions will require the support from the main export zone project in the initial stages, but once they gain momentum, they will be able to spurt another chain of specialized growth spurts in the region. This will be explained in further detail in a separate section.

These figures have been obtained by a  case study of an existing sand stone export unit, operating in Jhalawar Region of Rajasthan.¹

    The unit exports about 12 containers of sandstone tiles, in a variety of sizes, every day.

    The primary market being Europe and United States.

    It makes use of the container Depot just outside of Jaipur, on the newly initiated broad gage railway line.

Lets crunch numbers for exporting about 50,000 Sq. Ft. per day from this export unit. This will provide for about 30 employees, directly working on loading of the finished products, and at the same time will be providing indirect employment to approximately 200 people, in some way related to export zone. In all it will directly affect about 50 families, in or around the region and about 100 more families, related to these families.



A standard 20 ft container holds about 4000 Sq. Ft. Exporting about 12 to 13 containers would get the center close to the target.



Tabular data for number of employees projected to be working on different functions

FUNCTION	Workers needed for one container	Workers needed for 15 containers
Total number of workers required to load one container	20	300
Workers required to finish the stone	13	195
Workers required to crate the product	4	60
Workers needed to load one container, with a fork lift	.5	7.5

Equipment and Machinery required on site

Two hydra cranes, with maximum capacity of eight tonnes, and two fork lifts

The containers come in empty from the export depot, and get loaded up in the processing unit, once loaded it goes back up on the trailer, on it's way to the export depot.

This provides a great opportunity for a number of support industries to help this floating population, that has to wait for their trucks to get loaded.

    Maintanence of their vehicles

    Updating the paper work, like license, registration, permits and scheduling for future trips.

    Regular preventive maintenance of their vehicles, like a truck wash and oil change



    A community center with a post office, bank and an ATM on the premises.

    Video room, with compulsory viewing segments about Aids awareness, complimented by literature  available for the drivers and their aid. This will be the area of the complex where they can wait, which usually lasts for a few hours, while their trucks are getting loaded.

So there are primarily two segments of workers in the zone that need to be catered to. One section is working on getting the product ready and loaded on to the trucks, so that it can be moved to the export depot, for further action. The other segment is the floating population, who are there with the transport vehicles, and have absolutely nothing to do while they wait for their trucks to be loaded. This community center will act as a hub to act as a fulcrum of activities for this segment of the population. They will have a place to may be communicate with their owners, this aspect has already made big strides in the trucking industry in India, with the use of RFIDs. The export zone will actually have a personal element introduced to the equation. This will be the area that they can get work done for their home like buying presents for kids and etc.

Their will be an educational element to the whole thing as well. The community center will host a department of motor vehicle center, and driver education center. The khalaasi will be able to apply for and get a Commercial Drivers license, the driver will be able to take care of all the sarkaari needs for his professional licensing. This concept can be further reinforced by integrating a reward system for the drivers, that if their vehicles are well maintained and they have all the paperwork up to date, they get some extra incentive, like a free dinner pass or extra money. The only thing that can bring about change at the grass root level is education, and driver education in INdia is non existent. This export zone could be used as a pilot program to showcase the effects of better education for professionals.



The concept of education brings another related group into focus. The families of workers. Their spouses and kids, Who are beneficiary as well.ever a project of this scale is undertaken, it can very easily integrate family  members and very effectively make them draw benefits from the program, and start contributing in the community in a constructive way. This can be attained by creation of a cooperative for the family members of people actively working at the the export zone. This cooperative can not only provide means of employment for rest of the family members, but can also serve as a model for initiating competition with the local Baniya, by providing services at competitive prices and better quality, as the venture will not be a profit driven one.



The medical center associated with the SEZ will not only have full emergency response unit, equipped with ambulances and an intermediate level operation theater.

The medical center will also provide camps and incentive program for family planning. Distribution of free contraceptives for families, and singles alike.

It'll have a resident consuler for advising the parents about harmful effects abortion on the female body and it's effects on the family as a unit.

So to summarize the education aspects of the SEZ, it can be broadly categories as followings.



Infrastructure:

A school building, for about 1000 students till std 12th.

Primari benefeciary: Children of the surrounding region.

Secondary benefeciary: Adults from the surrounding region, getting their highschool degree or simply learning to read and write.

The hidden agenda, and equally important one, is education for women and awareness about the ill effects of female genocide. This problem is brewing in the background and it's not going to be long before it starts to destroy the cultural and social infrastructure of our country. The SEZ can provide the infrastructure and the audience for such a programme.

The adult school will provide incentives for women to come out and attend the evening school. The incentive could mean a higher salary for her husband, at the SEZ, sic but will be effective in getting the programme gather momentum.

The ultimate goal will be to create a parallel organization, managed by women, and indulged in exporting byproducts of sand stone export unit.



This programme will work in conjunction with the community medical centre, which would be providing medications and literature for the girl empowerment project.







Going back to the truck terminal, the SEZ will need to have a loading bay for 20 trucks. This will be basically a reinforced paved area, with the load bearing capacity of 35 tonnes, and well designed drainage system. Drainage is essanitial for longavity of the surface.  The loading zone will also have access to an administrative office, that will do the necessary paper work for loading of the vehicles, dispatching the vehicles and notifying the receiving depot at the container depot. The same office will also relay the information to central database, which would be accessible by the export commisiion. This will help the concerned agency monitor the progress, and make adjustments accordingly.

A conceptual model can be visualized at this point, which would be connecting different functions of the SEZ.

Raw material receiving zone>Administrative block 1> Processing zone for the material > Sorting and packaging zone > Administartive block 2 > organized Warehouse zone > Administartive block > Loading zone> Departure checkpoint.

The community development centre will be not too far away from the SEZ, as it'll be catering to the families of the employees at he SEZ as weill as the employee, and the floating population coming to the SEZ.



Functions that need to be in close proximity, or part of the same complex.

Food services for the truck drivers, including shower facilities and may be rest areas. That could just be a few cots in shade.

The driver centre will also have a public address system, and a display system informing them upto the minute progress of loading and unloading. The whole process has to treated as an assembly line, where the trucker enters the SEZ and gets a RFID based tag, a counterpart of which gets attached to the conatiTner that he is scheduled to pick. The system tracks the location of both the tags and updates the database with how much time it takes for the container to go thru each section. At the same time the tag on the trucker's wrist keeps track of all the areas that he visited during that time period, giving valuable information about effectiveness of certain programs, and need to finetune certain other aspects. For instance if the data shows that most of the drivers drop off their trucks for loading, and head straight to the sulabh shauchalay, get cleaned up, eat and rest and wait for their turn. Data like this would indicate the need to integrate driver education with dining, or have it in those zones.

The driver education center will also have a communication hub, with calling card recharging facilities, fax and access to internet.

Another facility that will be adjoining the SEZ will be research and training department for technical training and certification of employees. This will also help in encouraging the employees to get certified in different trades, like fork lift operator and crane operator, and further their carreers. This facility will make use of classroom teaching and simulation  technology.

The same centre can also be used for training drivers to drive bigger vehicles with higher payload capacities. The centre will also have facility for employees to get trained to be a mechanic, or a machinist and work in the repair and maintainence shop.

All this will work if there is a sense of pride instilled in the workforce.

A case study of Delhi Metro will give exceptional insights into factors that can bring about a paradigm shift. They have an exemplary record of employees staying on target and finish the task ahead of time. It can be attributed to the sense of pride among all concerned.

Tied with the same centre will be a subsidiery, that will act as the analysis and innovation wing. This unit will flourish with participation of employees, regarding the way things are done vs the way they ought to be done. Can the SEZ be more than just about earning foreign exchange. Planners and designers can look at the bigger picture, but a local body, with constant interaction with ground reality, can comeup with innovations that will nmot even showup at the planning radar. Like drinking water facility at the first checkpoint, when the trucks enter the SEZ. This will be the point where trucks would finish one half of the journey. A cold sip of water in sweltering heat can actually halp calm hot tempers.



Reagrding the communication aspects, the SEZ will collaborate with the makers of simputer and ropein Intel for WiMAX. So the whole district is wirelessly connected. This would openup so many possibilities in terms of not making the truck driver get out of his vehicle everytime he comes across a checkpoint. The aim could actually be a paperless SEZ. The vehicle gets a little pod, the moment it enters the zone, that keeps a track of every single step, and uploads data into it everytime it goes thru a checkpoint. This would be a great opportunity to really get the Babu culture out, as in this case the person actually managing the data base has no control over forwarding a file or not doing it for monitory reasons. This process can be made accessible to the public in a format that they can actually understand it and ask questions. ties up nicely with the right to information movement. I feel it has huge potential, as it advances the communication boundaries, gives politicians something to boast about, and can do some good stuff for the region.

Now I'll say the whole story thru a scenerio- story telling.

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RAMDEV

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Ramdev is really happy that he finally got a job working as a stone finisher at the SEZ. Hope is still a distant term, in a life plagued with misery and disappointment. Since the days he can remember, life has been a fight for survival. He has managed to manage, barely, but almost lost hope the last time it didn't rain for a long time. He doesn't aspire for much. All he wants is a glimmer of hope to cling to, and may be feed his family of four. At least once a day. He is almost grateful  that his youngest kid died an year ago. The doctor said he needed food not medicine. Now he only has  two  kids  and kamala, who works a s a domestic help, and  provides for food most of the time. But all that is going to change. He told himself as he quickened his pace. In a hurry to reach his  shack. It cold and days are getting shorter everyday. He wants to reach home before kamal, to hide the chameli ka gajara from her. He is in a good mood, didn't even stop at the theka to buy a pouch. Just didn't feel like it. Instead bought sweets for the kids and gajara for kamala. He starts tomorrow morning. He'll make 120 Rs everyday, plus free lunch. Ramdev pinched himself, he was not dreaming. He reached home and found kids playing outside the shack, they were playing tappu with a ragball. Their laughter vanished the moment they saw ramdev. They started to run inside, but he screamed at them. Urged them to stop. "Arre dekho main kya laaya hoon". They froze in their tracks. This was unusual, he is supposed to yelling and cursing. They still didn't trust him, and stood there. He showed them the newspaper bag, crumpled and slightly moist. Moist from the sugar syrup. JALEBEE....they screamed and snatched it from his hands. Kamala saw the whole commotion. Has he gone mad? Where did he get the money, and why isn't he drunk? As she came up behind him, she could hear the sobs. The tears of hope and happiness were rolling down his sunburned cheeks, washing away the dust from his wrinkled, cracked, dry skin.

Kamala put the kids to bed, in the corner next to the earthen stove. She covered them with a bed sheet. It looked more like a work of art, with innumerable patches, all shapes  and sizes. She went to the other side of the stove, and lied next to her Ramu. He was still awake with his eyes closed. She knew it.

    Babuji has asked us not to touch the tharra.

    Anybody who is late in the morning, need not even go.

    He came in a jeep with two policeman.

    You'll not believe, even the neta could not talk to him. He tried, but Babuji did not even look at him.

    They'll pay me 120 Rs everyday, 1 2 0.

    We might be able to send the kids to an English medium school, may be.

    Hey bhagwaan.

    You won't say anything? Are you not happy?

    Offcourse I am happy. Kamala said. She could feel the wet spots on the pillow, trying to penetrate the shiny coat of dirt and oil on the fabric. She did not feel his     hands when he tied the gajra to her braided hair. It all seemed like a dream, she did not want it to end.



Ramdev was already up and getting ready when Kamala woke up the next morning. She hurried to the nearby gaushala, and managed to borrow half a cup of milk, and promised to comeback and help with the chores there. Kamala fixed him a cup of chai and half roti, with lahsun ki chatni. His favorite. Ramdev slurped the brew as if his life depended on it. He even spilled some.

    Easy, whats the hurry.

    You wont understand, Babuji is very karak.

Ramdev left little after 6 that morning. After reaching the road, he did not have to wait for long for the jeep. There was enough place for him to sit, between two baskets of fresh vegetables, on the roof rack. He liked the fresh morning smell, cool air and his 502. He thought of all that he could do, if they would actually pay him  that much. 120. The acrid smoke filled his lungs, mingled with blood and rushed out of his nostrils filling the bushy mustache with smoke momentarily. His yellow teeth showed thru the chapped lips, he smiled without any reason.



      Ramdev heart sank when he saw the crowd at the entrance. So many. There must have been at least 50 or may be 100 people gathered at the main entrance of SEZ. He liked to call it patthar ki factory. He went and stood with the group, filling up the deepest crack that he could see in the human cluster. At that point he realized that they were all trying to get as close to the gate as possible. The factory is not supposed to open for another half an hour. He stayed in the crowd, afraid he might miss the call.



    He saw a well dressed man thru the cracks in the steel gate. But it was only 7:45. This guy must be a chamcha of Babuji. That is why he has come early. To make a good impression. He chuckeled. Then he saw few more men, all dressed in trousers and shirts and all wearing the same clothes. They had a funny looking neckles, with a big plastic case for photo. He touched his own Locket around his neck, just to check on his personal god. These guys all had photos, ramji ki photo, around their necks. Modern, educated guys. He still could not figure out why they were all trying to impress Babuji.



    At exactly 8 o clock, the gates were thrown open, and the whole crowd stood still, as if hypnotized, or caught naked in front of aa audience. they did not know where to go, and what to do. Babuji Namaste, Ramdev yelled at the top of his voice. He was one of the first one to spot him. Soon it was chaos and every one was trying to ask questions to everybody. At this point, babuji pulled out his megaphone and asked every one to settledown.

    You'll all get work.

    Settle down, no more yelling. Please make a que, and wait for your turn.

He had the crowd under control in no time, and soon the que started moving. They all went to a desk hoping to initial their name on dotted line, but there was no register, no ink pad and no dotted line. Instead, they were given a black Tabeez to wear around their wrist. Babuji told them in a very stern voice, lose this and you'll lose the job. Ramdev studied his device with a keen eye. He had absolutely no clue what it was, but knew one thing for sure. His future depended on it. he really wanted to ask somebody when and how he will get paid, but kept mum. He had faith in Babuji.

They were all devided into groups of ten each, and each team had a captain. A tabeez was securely fastened on his wrist and a bigger black plastick slate kind of a thing hung from his shoulder. Ramdev was led by his captain, and all ten of them followed him to an area with stacks of unfinished sandstone. There was a big steel trunk with hammers, chisels etc. The had all the tool needed to finish the sandstone.

They were all shown their tools and work stations. He was pleasently surprized that they'll get a cup of chai in about an hour, and they could rest if they got tired. It was at this point that Ramdev got the shock of his life, the Captain picked up the same set of tools and started moving towards a workstation. He just couldnot hold it anylonger, and asked the captain if he would be working as well.

    I am no captain Bhaya, I have the slate today, you'll get your turn tomorrow, and then someone else.

Ramdev had absolutely no idea how the slate kept track of the work he was doing or not doing, but he didn't care. He needed the money. Ramdev picked up the hammer and chisel and started the familiar routine. He had done this all his life. He was still unsure about the whole thing. He is not supposed to get work everyday and people are not supposed to pay him 120 rs for a days worth of work. After all he is just a stone chipper. He worked at a furious pace. by noon he had a tall stack of 2ft by 2ft red sand stone tiles neately piled up on a 4X4 pallet. He was not sure why they needed to be stacked on the pallet, but did as he was asked by the captain. Just before noon, the captain showed them all how to use a manual hydraulic lift, to move the pallets. It was very easy to move the heavy load. The level paved surface made the task even easier. Ramdev and rest of his team moved the pallets in the designated area, where another group of workers were wrapping them with a thick plastic, and putting labels on them. This was all new to Ramdev. Why would somebody buy this much of stone? Oh' well, good for us, he chuckled.

All of them ate lunch in the cafeteria. It already had about 10-15 guys sitting there, they looked like truck drivers. Ramdev stood in the que, and was given a steel thaali. He started moving along, and got served with roti daal and subzee. He did not realize how hungary he was till he saw food on the plate. This was so different. they had to throw leftovers in a big drum, clean and wash their plates and put them back in the place. He had never, ever done this in life. He needed the money.

They all sat around, as they atill had 15 more minutes before the lunch got over. He was pleasently surprized to find few more guys from around the area. It did not take him long to realize that they had all taken the same wow. A wow of honesty with Babuji. One mistake, one instance of cheating and it'll be over. Ramdev contemplated for a moment, this is the easiest thing that anyone has ever asked him to do. Work and get paid. He could handle that.



The shrill siren broke his chain of thoughts, he rushed to his feet, ready to finish the rest of the pile. The work after lunch was same as  what he had done before. It was actually less than  the morning work load. He did not understand it. By 4:00 pm that day, Ramdev finished his work. He suddenly realised the reason behind less work in the evening. He was supposed to clean the tools, put them back in the tool box, and clean the workstation as well. All the small stonechips scattered around the workstation were to be put in a gunny sack, and moved into a big pile in another area. This took almost half and hour. All the workers washed up after finishing their tasks, and gathers in the community center. Oh, they even have a bank, Ramdev told himself. Just as all the workers were settling down, babuji entered the room. He had everyones attention. He explained to them about getting all the 120 rs now or create a savings account with the bank. There was a little murmur in the room. They were not used to leaving their money with someone else. "Think about it. You were getting 50-60 rs here and there, so take 75 and leave the rest ion the bank. Learn to save, save for your kids and your family." Ramdev decided to get the whole amount. He didn't trust anyone with his money.



On his way back that evening, few of his coworkers asked him to to stop at the theka, and have fun. He wanted to, but decided against it and went home.

He was eager to get back to his family. As soon as he reached home, he saw the air of excitement in his mohalla. Everybody was talking and nodding their heads. Ramdev told himself, It can't be me. I have not done anything special. Kamala hurriedly pulled him inside the hut and told him the whole story. Few officials from the SEz` had come and talked about adult education. She told him about the scheme. If the women folk go to th eadult education center for half a day and help in the community kitchen and community centre for rest of the day, their kids will go to the SEZ scool for a nominal fees. He could see that she had already madeup her mind. She was looking at him expectedly, with hope and expectation. "So how will you takecare of the kids and household work?" He asked her. I will takecare of it, even if I have to get up at 4 in the morning. If it does not work out, I'll stop going there. I have made your favourite sabzee. Please say yes.