AFVOA Newletters of Year 2004

Page 98 of 153 117. Now the Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI), Mumbai, has published the results of a scientific comparative survey of nineteen brands of detergents. 118. According to Mr. C.V. Nagaraj of Mysore Gahakara Parishat, the surprising result of the survey is that the washing efficiency or the dirt-removing capacity (‘detergency’) of the various brands were somewhat similar while the cost varied enormously from a high of Rs. 160 kg of Surf Excel (auto) to a low of Rs. 18 kg of Sasa Green. 119. The detergency in the study by CGSI was determined by comparing the light reflectances of a white fabric before soiling, after soiling and after washing with the detergent and measuring how close to the original white the fabric returned after the wash, he said. 120. Combining the washing efficiency and the price of the detergent gives the “cost per wash” which is the cost to the consumer to get a cloth washed to the desired degree of cleanliness. So the lower the cost per wash, the better it is for the consumer. The cost per wash for the major brands in increasing order is as follows: Re. 0.90 (Sasa Green), Re. 0.95 (Nirma), Re. 1 (Chek-Extra Blue, NirmaShakti, Wheel Active), Rs. 2.10 (Rin Shakti), Rs. 2.30 (Tide), Rs. 3.75 (Henko-Stain Champ), Rs. 3.80 (Surf Excel-Blue), Rs. 4.50 (Surf Multiaction), Rs. 5 (Ariel-Compact, Surf Excel), Rs. 8 (Surf Excel-Auto). Therefore, Sasa Green (made by Mahila Udyog, the makers of Lijjat papad) and Nirma are the top two buys. It is of interest that the best buys in the list are Indian while the bottom brands are MNC. 121. Hindustan Lever, Procter & Gamble and Henkel, which market the MNC brands tested in the survey have claimed that the survey is not complete and that their products deliver highly on other parameters such as stain removal, prevention of damage to colours and fabrics, odour removal from the fabric, perfume of the detergent, etc. 122. CGSI has countered with the statement that it will test these other parameters also if the companies are willing to share their respective protocols, according to Mr. Nagaraj. Laloo’s Complaint Laloo, Rabri and their son were returning from South by train. (before he became Minister.) Laloo was occupying the lower berth, Rabri the middle berth and his son the upper berth in the train compartment. The train stopped at one of the stations on the way back and the son wanted Laloo to bring him some chocolate. When Laloo and his son returned, they found that a South Indian who couldn’t understand Hindi had occupied his son’s berth. Upset and angry, Laloo called the Ticket checker and asked him to help. The Ticket checker said that he could not understand Hindi or Bihari and so it would be nice if Laloo explained the whole situation to him in English. Laloo explained, in English : “That man sleeping on top of my wife is not giving birth to my child.”