India has a rich, centuries old tradition of carpet weaving. A craft of assorted skills and expertise passed down over several generations. Every year, India exports 85% to 90%, of the total produced carpets. India has gained the No 1 status in the world for hand-made carpets and has gained a strong international brand image. Indian carpets are today well known for its aesthetics craftsmanship, elegance and vibrant designs. Hand-knotted woollen, hand-tufted woollen, hand-woven woollen, hand-made woollen durries and silk carpets are some of the types of carpets made in India. Not only is the carpet industry an important export revenue generating sector for India, it is also the source of livelihood for millions of rural weavers and artisans. It is estimated that the carpet industry provides direct or indirect employment to more than two million domestic weavers, including farmers and others at their homes – especially women. India exports carpets to more than 70 nations across the world. The major countries include the U.S., Germany, Canada, U.K., Australia, and China. The major carpet producing clusters in India are located in Uttar Pradesh (Bhadohi Mirzapur), Rajasthan (Jaipur Bikaner), Haryana (Panipat) and Jammu & Kashmir.
Intensive campaigns by international organizations started in the late 1980s and in the beginning of 1990s against the alleged use of child labour in the Indian carpet belt. This led to a proposal to totally boycott the import of carpets from India. To avoid the negative consequences of such a step on the livelihoods of rural weavers and artisans and India’s valuable export earnings, a positive and long-lasting solution was needed.
“Rugmark”, an initiative of the IGEP Trust against the use of illegal child labour in the carpet industry, was initiated in 1994 by Indian carpet manufacturers and exporters along with many leading Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). IGEP Trust, together with UNICEF and the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ), developed the Rugmark labelling system. The Rugmark label offers the best possible assurance that no illegal child labour was used in the manufacture of a carpet or rug. The Rugmark label on the carpet is individually numbered, enabling its origin to be traced as a measure to minimize chances of counterfeits.
Today Rugmark has more than 300 licensees in India alone. About 30 companies in Germany exclusively import and sell Rugmark carpets from India. They are members of the Rugmark Foundation, Germany. Besides approximately 350 carpet dealers, furniture stores and mail-order firms in Germany alone offer Rugmark labeled carpets. Similar outlets exist in other American and European countries too. The family is constantly growing.
In order to rehabilitate and ensure education of the children removed from the carpet industry, the Rugmark Foundation was incorporated in September 1994 under Sec. 25 of the Indian Companies Act of 1956, as a private, voluntary, non-profit entity. Rugmark Foundation educates, rehabilitates and provides health care to the children removed from carpet weaving and also to the children of poor carpet weavers. It encourages community-based rehabilitation and runs various community development programmes.
