Revised Version of the “ABC” Criteria

“ABC List” needs to be an effective tool to prompt, instigate and responsibilise the participating manufacturers to strictly adhere to the provisions of the programme. In order to make it more effective, it is expedient to explicitly define the criteria of ABC categories.  Accordingly revised definitions of “ABC” are given below:

Category “A”

“It shall contain the names of those participating manufacturers who religiously adhere to all the provisions of the programme, as enunciated in the undertaking they sign at the time of joining the programme. These provisions include undertaking 100% stitching of all hand-stitched balls (without any distinction of size, kind, value of the ball) at monitorable stitching places; prompt response to any query from IMAC; keeping the IMAC updated at all times about their stitching activities; closing, opening of stitching centers; not involving in any kind of counterfeiting/fake production of branded balls; instituting a strong and effective internal monitoring system etc. An important yardstick for making sure that all the stitching activities take place at the monitorable stitching places is the variation between the internal monitoring information and the external monitoring information with reference to the actual production output and the number of stitchers at each stitching center. If the variation (difference between the number of balls produced with reference to the number of stitchers present at respective centre) is less than 30%, the manufacturer shall be placed in Category “A”. If the variation exceeds 30%, the respective manufacturer shall be shifted to category “B”;” (Stitching capacity of a stitcher is calculated at 3.5 balls per 8 hours day. 30% variation is acceptable in case of promotional/ cheep balls where more than 3.5 balls could be easily stitched in a 8 hours day).

Category “B”

“It shall contain the names of those manufacturers who are sluggish or sloppy in adhering to the provisions of the programme at times; whose names, as punishment for violation of the programme provisions, are shifted from Category “A”; who are evasive or hide information or do not provide complete information; who do not employ an effective internal monitoring. The name of a manufacturer shall remain in the “B” Category maximum for a period of three months. If within three months that manufacturer do not improve his/her performance, his name shall be further down graded to Category “C”;”    

Category “C”

“Category “C” is for those manufacturers who are not serious about the programme and habitual violators of its provisions. Any manufacturer who would deliberately or knowingly violate provisions of the programme continuously on more than three occasions shall be removed from a higher category to Category “C”. Similarly, if at any stitching facility of a manufacturer, any child, under the age of 14 years, is found working, and the respective manufacturer do not take any action against those responsible for engaging the child in work, the manufacturer shall immediately be transferred to the Category “C”. A manufacturer, once placed in Category “C” will remain in this category for not more than three months. If the manufacturer once placed in Category “C” does not improve his performance within three months period, recommendation shall be made to remove him from the programme.