KATHMANDU, Nov 30: In mid-November, just as the sun was setting, I arrived at Lumbini Ceramics Limited in Gularia-8, Bardiya. Inside the factory, local worker Poonam Chaudhary’s eyes shone like the full moon. Poonam, a bachelor’s student, felt thrilled to have found a job close to home. "There was no opportunity to work outside. With the industry coming nearby, it became much easier," she said. "This is very important for our community."
Not only she, but also other youths of the Tharu community, who are usually busy with farming, have started working at the factory. As the factory is in its initial stages of production, job opportunities are expected to rise.
Santoshi Chaudhary, who was with Poonam, said, "I have been working for three months now. This has made the family members happy as well." The youth of this community, usually bound to stay at home despite gaining education, expressed their happiness at having the opportunity to work.
"Many people from the village have left, but the arrival of a large industry has sparked hope," said Shambhujit Tharu. "If such industries operate in every village, those who have gone abroad will return. Even one such industry has brought hope to the entire community."
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When Lumbini Ceramics Limited started producing tiles with state-of-the-art technology in Gularia Municipality-8, Bardiya, it sparked hopes of employment among locals. The factory has given hope to those who have gone abroad, including to countries like India, in search of work. "Even relatives living abroad have started inquiring about the industry," says Shambhujit. "Those who had left for Kathmandu or Pokhara have already returned."
Given the growing demand, the industry started producing tiles under the brand name 'Laminar Vitrified Tiles' in mid-August, aiming to make Nepal self-sufficient in tile production.
Abhinav Churiwal, the director of Lumbini Ceramics Limited, said, "We established a state-of-the-art industry with the aim of making Nepal self-sufficient in tiles. This has also provided opportunities for the locals."
Lumbini Ceramics invested Rs 4 billion to establish an industry spread over 12 bighas of land. "Lumbini Ceramics is the largest tile industry operating in Nepal," said Director Churiwal. "It produces high-quality tiles with high load-bearing capacity using state-of-the-art technology."
Lumbini Ceramics produces tiles in various sizes and offers them in more than 500 attractive designs. The company states that Laminar Vitrified Tiles are suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as parking areas. It has also created slightly rougher tiles for parking that prevent vehicle or motorcycle tires from slipping.
The company has emphasized the transparency of its entire tile manufacturing process and offers industry tours for those interested. Thanks to the use of high-quality production methods and raw materials, Laminar Tiles are 99.92 percent water-proof. Director Churiwal stated, "Laminar Tiles are up to three times more durable than ceramic and other types of tiles."
Laminar Tile Industry states that it has a daily production capacity of 140,000 square feet and has provided direct employment to over 300 people, many of whom are locals. Since the company is in its initial stages, it currently imports raw materials from Rajasthan, India. However, it plans to use domestically sourced raw materials soon. The company has identified suitable clay in Dadeldhura for this purpose.
The company has set the price of Laminar Vitrified Tiles at Rs 80 to Rs 200 per square foot, claiming that these tiles are 20 percent cheaper than imported ones. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, India supplied 99 percent of the tiles consumed in Nepal. In 2019, Nepal imported tiles worth about Rs 10.50 billion. Currently, the estimated annual tile consumption in the country is around Rs 12 billion.
Along with Laminar, five other tile industries operate in Nerpali market. Lumbini Ceramics' director Churiwal believes that Laminar Tiles offer higher quality and more competitive pricing than any other Nepali or foreign tiles, and he is confident that they will lead the market. Currently, more than 100 Laminar Tile dealers operate in the country's major cities, and they will soon reach all cities, he emphasized. "We believe in the customer's right to choose. To support that, we never compromise on quality."
