So What If Aakash 2 Was Made in China?

The report in HT implicated that Datawind, owner of the Aakash brand, has conned the country. The report said that Aakash 2, India's cheapest tablet, was bought off-the-shelf from various manufacturers in China. Datawind sent in a press release to clarify the matter.

The release mentioned that for the first 10k units to be tested by IIT, the motherboards and kits manufactured in their Chinese subcontractor's facilities, and then the units were 'kitted' in China. The release stated that this was done for "expediency". These kits were then imported dutyfree as per government regulations for the education sector. The initial units were finally assembled in New Delhi and Amritsar.

The documents on which HT's report were based would reflect what Datawind has done. Commenting on the issue, Prasanto K Roy, Editorial Advisor, Cybermedia said, "It was sensationalist to say "conned" in the headline. If they have decided to source full kits (the equivalent of semi- knocked down units) as a quick start measure, with a road map for assembly in India in the new few months, then it's a non-issue; especially if the government is aware of it and okay with this."

Prasanto adds, "There are many issues and question marks in the Aakash program, but this - the question of where it's being made in the initial batch - is a non issue. As long as IIT will ensure testing of subsequent batches that are more fully "made in India", to ensure quality, it is okay."

The point is Aakash 2 was never meant to be the proof of India's manufacturing prowess. And neither is manufacturing the proof of brand ownership. If that was the case, then iPAD is a Chinese brand. As a country, we need to understand the complexities of delivering global products- design lifecycles, sourcing strategies, supply chain management, contract manufacturing, and more.