When I went to Danish Manda, a cluster in Jalandhar, workers were stitching footballs early in the morning. People were sitting outside their homes to get proper light, and there were no air conditioners or fans. While exploring further I came across a family of six members, and surprisingly, regardless of their age or gender, they were all working. Both a 60-year-old man and 9-year- old child were stitching a football.

It broke my heart to see people putting in so much effort and still not making a decent living. The major hub of the Indian sports goods industry is Jalandhar which is followed by Gurgaon in Haryana and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. 

Emergence of Jalandhar as a Sports Goods Hub

In Sialkot, Sardar Bahadur and Sardar Ganda Singh Oberoi established the sports goods industry in 1883. In 1885, sports equipment became the first industrial product from India to be exported. There are organized and unorganized sectors within the Sports Good Sector. Thus, Sialkot, Pakistan, is the birthplace of the Indian Sports Goods industry. Many Hindu artisans from Sialkot moved to Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in India after partition. India ranks among the top producers of inflated balls, including footballs Since 1947.  

The Indian sports good market has experienced rapid expansion. Products such as footballs nets, cricket bats, balls, and footballs from India been progressively becoming more and more well-known globally. Over the past 50 years, the sports goods industry has expanded rapidly and made significant contributions to the Indian economy. It offered jobs to many people, utilizing the potential of both rural and urban areas, and growing exports. 

During the Mughal era, Jalandhar gained significance in Sports industry. Basti Danish Manda, Basti Guzan, and Basti Nau are among the 12 Muslim Bastis (clusters of houses) that emerged and are now important hubs for the sports good sector. Basti Nau boasts one of the largest markets for sporting goods as well. 

Industrial Growth and Economic Impact in Jalandhar

According to the 1991 census, Jalandhar has the highest population density in India, with 598 people per square kilometers, and ranks second in terms of urbanization rate. This is due to the increasing industrialization. Sports goods market has expanded remarkably over time, with Indian sports goods exported to the other nations. According to an estimate, Jalandhar currently boasts over 150 major industries and approx. 20,000 small scale businesses, with an annual turnover of roughly Rs 450 crore. 

Global Impact and Economic Contribution

Approximately 60% of the sports goods produced in Jalandhar are inflatable balls of various types. In addition to inflatable balls, other sports goods that are produced in large quantities include cricket bats and balls, badminton racquets and shuttlecocks, gloves and protective gear. 

Jalandhar is a significant supplier of high-quality sporting goods to over 130 countries worldwide, including several developed nations. During FIFA World Cup 2010, Jalandhar cluster introduced the idea of machine-stitched footballs. 

Challenges Faced by the Industry

Although Jalandhar produces more footballs than any other city in India, it comes with its challenges. Most handcrafted footballs are created by impoverished people, which is not an easy task to do. You run the risk of getting cuts when making a football, so you need to know the stitching technique. Workers wear a wide rubber ring on the top fold of their finger to protect themselves from thread and needle cuts. 

In the city, people of all ages are involved in manufacturing footballs because more production means more money. Unfortunately, they do not receive enough pay for the labor they put in. A middleman tales the lion’s share of the profit. These days businesses use machines that make it harder for employees to get jobs. Companies employ them at low pay because they lack the raw materials to sell footballs on their own. 

One Football costs Rs 80 to stitch, while a rugby costs Rs 35. Compared to the amount we spend buying football from the market, it is very little. Since Jalandhar produce footballs that are exported for FIFA, businesses ought to pay their employees more so that the young workers can concentrate on their studies. 

Every four years during FIFA World Cup, a large quantity of footballs is shipped to Argentina, a nation obsessed with football. Around 50,000 balls were produced daily in the city to fulfil the enormous demand from all over the world in FIFA World Cup 2014. Also Footballs with branding and exhibition purposes are commonly produced in the city. Numerous international corporations place orders for personalized footballs from companies in Jalandhar. 

Conclusion

The manufacturing and export of footballs from Jalandhar demonstrates the industrial strength of the city and the difficulties its labor force faces. Jalandhar is an important global hub for sporting goods production, and as such it supplies footballs to many nations, making a substantial contribution to the global sports market.  

But despite this achievement, there are issues that need to be resolved, most notably the low pay for labor. Many laborers in the city are paid very little for their skill and dedication, which negatively impacts their quality of life and creates financial difficulties.  

To tackle these obstacles, a well-rounded strategy that guarantees equitable pay and better working conditions for employees is needed. Worker empowerment and improved livelihoods can result from initiatives that prioritize sustainable development, ethical labor practices, and skill development. In addition, Jalandhar keeps growing as a center for sports goods by embracing technological advancements, innovations in production techniques, and adapting to the evolving requirements of the international sports market.