Change with times
From a shackled industry, which had to resort to imports to meet domestic demand, the Indian salt industry has come a long way. Today, India is the fourth largest salt producer in the world with a record-breaking 14.5 lakh tonne production this year.

Editorial -- Export the glut
Government's assertion that it will assist the salt industry in "every way possible" to carve a niche for itself on the exports front needs to be taken with a pinch of salt literally.

Salt’s trail down centuries
Consider this -- everyday, each of planet earth's 5.9 billion inhabitants use salt. We need salt to survive. And while pre-historic man obtained salt from the meat of hunted animals, with the development of agriculture.

Salt production technologies
All deposits of natural, underground salt, also known as halite, came from the oceans. These are the resources for the production of dry salt and salt in brine.

Lofty aims, tardy progress
The large requirement of iodised salt to combat iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) was what prompted the government to permit private participation in the production of iodised salt.

Salt in the making
In the marine salt units, seawater, which has 3 to 4 degrees baume concentration, is let in by tidal action through gates into salt ponds called reservoirs.

R&D effort
In India, the Bhavnagar-based central salt and marine chemicals research institute (CSMCRI) is doing some pioneering work in research and development in the fields of salt, marine and other allied inorganic chemicals.

Gear up for change or shrink
When the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi strode purposefully alongside thousands across the length of Gujarat in his historic Dandi March in 1930 to release the domestic salt industry from the shackles of the Britishers.

Asking to be unleashed
Even though India ranks fourth in the list of salt producing nations, its exports are virtually non-existent.

Brands are the future
Corporatisation of the Indian salt industry is a relatively new phenomenon. In the past, salt production was concentrated among the small and medium manufacturers.

Advantages of a corporate model
In Economies of scale, which remains the biggest and most obvious advantage of switching over to a corporatised structure. Salt will remain labour-oriented.

"We will surmount the glut"
A glaring anomaly in the set-up of the salt department -- which falls under the industry ministry -- is the fact that though Gujarat accounts for more than 70% of the country's salt production.