INDUSTRIES

Jamalpur Workshop (Eastern Railway)

Brief History: Established on the 8^th day of February 1862, Jamalpur Workshop has enjoyed the distinction of being the largest and the oldest locomotive repair workshop with the most diversified manufacturing activities on the Indian Railways. The British chose Jamalpur as the site of this workshop due to ready availability of skilled workers who were descendants of acclaimed gun makers and fabricators of weapons of steel for the Nawabs of Bengal and Orissa.

The workshop has a number of FIRSTS to its credit, a few of which are: -

• The FIRST to manufacture a steam locomotive and a locomotive boiler – 216 of which were manufactured between 1899 and 1923. 
• The FIRST to have set up a rolling mill not only on the railways, but probably in the country in 1870. 
• The FIRST to establish a railway foundry in the year 1893. 
• The FIRST to manufacture a rail crane in the country with indigenous know-how in 1961. 
• The FIRST to manufacture high capacity electrical lifting jacks and ticket printing, ticket chopping, ticket slitting and ticket counting machines. 
• The FIRST and the only railway workshop to manufacture electrical arc furnaces of ½ tonne capacity in 1961 for production of steel castings.

With the gradual eclipse of steam traction on Indian Railways, steam locomotive activities, which had peaked to 600 Standard units per month in 1962-63, started declining in the late 60’s and finally the steam activities came to a complete end in August’92. The closure of steam activities was to some extent overcome with the switching over to the repair of Diesel Locomotives, repair of unloadable wagons and manufacture of Diesel Hydraulic B.D.Cranes and Tower Cars. Workshop undertook manufacturing of rolling stock spares in a big way to meet demand of in house, other divisions and workshops of eastern railway. Workshop has recently started periodical over hauling of BOX’N wagons.

Gun MANUFACTURING Industry at Munger

In Medieval India very few cities like Agra and Munger along with some others had expertise for the manufacture of firearms. It was done quite efficiently during Shershah. It was of course banned by Mugal Emperor Akbar. However some times after Agra lost this industry but Munger technicians kept alive their traditional industry. The gun manufacture facilities to be a factory for the selection of Munger by Mir Kasim Ali as his capital. It was also geographical and strategically safe and well protected.

Previously, here cannon wer made at Topkhana Bazar but subsequently it came to Guns firstly like ML Guns and then to capped gun. Gun manufacturing got fresh impletus during Mirkashim regime. Till the Shifting of the factories to the jail Campus it was being done at Chuabag and Kassim Bazar. Britishers banned the use of guns by private persons by enforcing Acts viz. Act 18 in 1841, Act 30 in 1854. its manufacture was then also banned by Act 28 of 1857, then up to 1860 by Act 31 of 1860.

In 1879 New Arms Act came into existence on 6^th March, 1879 and provisions were made for the manufacture of guns under licenses scheme. The then Collector Mr. Lee highly appreciated the craftsmanship of the gunsmiths of Munger, who were selling their Gun only for Rs. 10 only despite their inseparable condition.

During the First world war period the Munger Gun manufacture again came into prominence and production of cartridge gun was also developed.

Munger was perhaps the only city in India where gun manufacturing took the shape of a cottage industries and became popular profession.

ITC LIMITED FACTORY

Background & History: The present ITC factory, which is popularly known as the “Chatkal” or Cigarette factory, is one of the biggest tobacco factories of India built over 17.38 acres of land. The factory is situated at Basdeopur, 1.5 miles from Munger station.

It was started by the Peninsular Tobacco Company on 6^th November, 1907 in Munger presumably because of its proximity to a suitable tobacco cultivating area and also due to the availability of transport facilities by rail, road and river. It commenced its manufacturing operation in the year 1908. In 1910, the Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited came into existence as a private company, as a selling and distribution organization.

On 12^th December, 1925, a printing factory was also set up for the printing needs of this factory. In 1928, the Peninsular Tobacco Company went out of business in India and its cigarette production activities were taken by Tobacco Manufacturing (India) Ltd., while Printers (India) Limited took over the printing business in Munger inside the factory campus itself. After the great damages during 1934 earthquake, the factory received certain renovation and reorganization.

In the 21^st century, it provides direct employment to around 1800 workmen. This Factory is operated on world-class benchmarks in terms of quality, health and safety standards and provides a gamut of welfare and medical care services to its employees. The Factory has to its credit various International and National awards like the Sword of Honour from the British Safety Council, ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certification from DNV, Netherlands, ROSPA Gold Award for Occupational Safety, Bachat Factory Certificate from the Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, First Prize for Pollution Control Management from the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, etc.

ITC’s Sunehra Kal Mission through BAIF & SEWA at Munger: Pursuant to the wishes of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, President of India, during his visit to Bihar in May 2003 that efforts be made in the direction of social upliftment, ITC has flagged off its “Sunehra Kal Mission” in Munger in partnership with BAIF Development Research Foundation and SEWA, both nationally renowned, non-political and professionally managed NGOs. The projects at Munger, which is the first of its kind in Bihar, aims at creating opportunities for gainful self-employment for the rural families especially disadvantaged sections, ensuring sustainable livelihood, enriched environment and improved quality of life.

ITC’s Other Social Responsibility Initiatives at Munger: Apart from the above notable contributions, ITC’s Munger Factory has constantly discharged its responsibilities as a good and responsible corporate citizen by addressing the local issues relating to the local society. The Company works in close concert with the District administration at all times and actively supports it by way of repairs to roads and drains, donation of equipment to the Municipality, arranging immunization camps, putting up lighting around Munger town, etc. Additionally, the Company provides support proactively during earthquakes and other administrative exigencies from time to time.

Furthermore, free cataract eye camps are also organized through several NGOs along with organizing general health check-up for the citizens of Munger. ITC has also been organizing free yoga and health awareness camps every month for the people of Munger.

From time to time, the Company has supported various activities like providing equipments for the Operation Theatre at the Government Sadar Hospital, lighting facilities and provision of generator services. It has also provided certain infrastructure facilities at the District Court at Munger apart from assistance in the construction of a much-needed public toilet and bathing complex under the aegis of the Sulabh International and cleaning of the Ganga water intake pumps done from time to time which serves to ameliorate drinking water shortage in the Munger town during summer months.