In an effort to raise awareness among the youth about the dangers associated with illicit trade, FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) today organized an interschool competition in St Edmund’s School, Jawahar Nagar, Jaipur. Focused on the theme ‘Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting,’ the competition featured three distinct categories: Painting, Speech, and Jingle Writing. The programme saw an overwhelming response and participation from more than 350+ students from over 30 schools in Jaipur.
Mr Devendra Mohan Mathur, President, Rajasthan State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Jaipur said, “I strongly believe that awareness initiatives like FICCI CASCADE’s inter-school competition can help cultivate a generation that is vigilant against the threats of illicit trade.” He also felicitated the winners for the inter-school competition.
Dr Anant Sharma, Chairman, Consumer Confederation & ICAN said, “The utilization of fraudulent or counterfeit products not only adversely affects the economy but also poses
significant health risks. The battle against smuggling and counterfeiting not only serves the
interests of the government but also brings substantial advantages to both the industry and
consumers alike. “
Mr PC Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, said, “The primary challenge associated with counterfeiting and smuggling lies in the lack of proper tracking and documentation throughout the entire
lifecycle of these goods, spanning from their production to consumption.”
To illustrate, the illicit trade within five specific sectors—smartphones, cigarettes, alcohol,
packaged foods, and household items—results in an annual financial loss of nearly 5800
crores. It is imperative for all of us to come together and combat the dual threats of counterfeiting and smuggling. By making the youth aware about the correlation between
ethical practices and economic integrity, we can help build a stronger nation, emphasized
Mr. Jha.
Mr Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, said, “Being the future decision-makers, youth must understand the adverse consequences of illicit trading from an early age. It is our responsibility to provide them with the education to address the risks posed by this menace and make informed choices. By empowering the younger generation, we will contribute towards building a society free from the scourge of smuggling and counterfeiting.”
The market for contraband and smuggled goods is thriving in India and is today one of the
biggest challenges Indian industry faces. The country is witnessing widespread smuggling in
various product categories such as gold, cigarettes, cosmetics, medicines, jewellery, readymade garments, alcohol, capital goods and consumer electronics, which is severely
hurting the country’s economy.
FICCI CASCADE is a dedicated forum on combating smuggling and counterfeiting. Over the
years, FICCI CASCADE has been working on creating awareness on tackling this grave problem which is not only a serious threat to public health and safety but also results in
huge losses to the Indian economy and has the potential to derail the country’s growth momentum. Along with policymakers, industry, enforcement officials and media, FICCI CASCADE has been working closely with the country’s youth in its fight to address this issue
through various interschool and intercollege competitions and programmes.