Technical sessions mark World Standards Day in Paonta Sahib

As part of the World Standards Day series, a grand standards festival was organised in Paonta Sahib on Monday. The event saw active participation from industry representatives, jewellers, school students and the general public. Local MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary was the chief guest at the event.

In his address, Chaudhary emphasised the importance of maintaining product standards, saying, “Every product should be made according to the set standards. Industries that earn the trust of consumers enjoy long-term success.”

He further stressed that consumer satisfaction was the best form of advertising, and called for more workshops like these to be organised regularly.

Technical sessions were organised by SS Lahiri, vice-president of Liberty Shoes; Abhishek Mahapatra from Tata Consumer Products; Vikrant Thakur from V-Guard; and scientists from the BIS.

The event also featured participation from Saurabh Tiwari, Director of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Dehradun branch, who elaborated on this year’s World Standards Day theme, which focuses on SDG-9, highlighting industry, innovation and infrastructure. Through various events for the World Standards Day, the BIS is actively engaging with stakeholders to seek their feedback and suggestions. Tiwari said, “Without standards, our lives cannot be meaningful.”

Satish Goyal, president of the Himalayan Chamber of Commerce, echoed the sentiments, adding that the ISI mark on any product instils trust in consumers. He urged industries, even those not in the mandatory category, to voluntarily associate with the BIS.

The event also featured performances by students from several schools, including skits, Punjabi dance and the traditional Sirmauri nati. Additionally, mentors, industrialists, resource persons and employees from the Education and Panchayati Raj Departments were honoured for their exceptional contributions to promoting standards.

Key attendees included Arun Goyal, vice-president of the Himachal Chamber of Commerce; Sanjay Singla, president of the Himachal Drug Association; and Vikas Bansal from Laghu Udyog Bharati. The event successfully fostered discussions on the importance of maintaining standards across various sectors, ensuring continued growth and consumer trust.