Shri Ramesh complimented the carpet industry on its export performance over the past two years and exhorted it to invest in new designs and technology by way of improved looms that hold the key to enhanced productivity and competitiveness.
The 3rd India Carpet Expo has attracted 250 overseas buyers showing the popularity of Indian carpets and the versatile capabilities of the industry.
Shri Ramesh called upon the Carpet Export Promotion Council to carry out an independent social audit every year to convince NGOs and others that incidence of child labour has indeed come down significantly over the past two decades.
He recalled that ten years back, there was an effort by the US Congress to put a ban on exports of handmade carpets from India on the child labour issue.
But the combined efforts of the government and industry were successful in ensuring that this ban did not fructify. Now, Indian exporters are in a position to give their buyers the “Kaleen” certificate to certify that carpets exported do not use child labour in any way.
The greater use of “Kaleen” would also help in combating adverse propaganda against India not only by foreign countries but also by our own NGOs and civil society groups.
The central and state governments must also step up their verification and monitoring campaigns to ensure that anti-child labour laws are implemented in every way.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), Shri Ashok Jain highlighted the adverse impact that the appreciation of the rupee vis-à-vis the dollar is having on the competitiveness of Indian handmade carpets in overseas markets and called for urgent measures to protect Indian exporters since employment will be the casualty.
He also called for greater subsidies on export credit in order to meet with growing threats from countries like China and Pakistan.
Press Information Bureau Government of India
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