New Delhi : The Indian carpet industry , which is biggest exporter and producer of handmade carpets has strongly rebutted allegation of use of child labour and utilization of health hazard and non-environmental friendly substances in the production  process especially in the Agra belt.

The total global market size of both machine woven and handmade carpets and floor covering is about $35-40 billion per annum and handmade rugs have a share of about $5 billion in it. India has a share of about $1.6 billion, or about 35 per cent in the handmade carpets and rugs category.

The most important buyer of Indian handmade carpets is the United States, far ahead of the European Union. Due to the competitive position of the Indian suppliers is negatively influenced by the world wide critics of the production conditions-in addition to the increasing number of producer countries-by the non-government organizations and similar institutions.

The critics have been dominated since many years by the alleged use child labour in a big way: this is followed by the critical remarks against utilization of health hazardous and by not environmental friendly substances

These arguments have been repeated in a German TV film of the program PlusMinus of the ARD in October 2018.The shown film has been made in the region of Agra. Because of the massive accusations the Indian Government decided to control the working conditions and the consequences of the production for the environment in this region. The analysis was carried out by the National Commission for the Protection of the Child Rights (NCPCR) . UNICEF and Indo-German Export Promotion Program (IGEP which has been certifying Indian handmade carpets are child labour free for last 25 years with RUGMARK certificate  . They found no truth in the alleged reports .

The results of NCPCR  analysis were also presented on the opening day of the recently held carpet fair Domotex in Hannover, Germany this month . The Indian Consul General Mr. Madan Lal Raiger, Hamburg, officially released the study. He emphasized in the same way as other speakers from the side of the Indian exporters that criticism of child labour in the carpet industry is very strongly exaggerated.

“The Indian Government has improved the necessary legal framework comprehensively and has given the responsible institutions the respective competences. Activities for controlling the government bodies and the private sector would be regularly carried out and strictly controlled. The same can be said for the environmental sector especially with regard to the utilization of harmful chemicals. Controls by neutral organizations for auditing and certification as Kaleen and RUGMARK  in addition take care for the effect that child labour and environmental damages could be considerably reduced. “ Said Dr Diterich Kebshcull, Director, Indo German Export Promotion Project (IGEP) working for improving bilateral trade between the Two countries .

This positive development shows clearly the considerable increase of social and environmental responsibility of the government and the private companies. This is not only for the benefit of the workers, the entrepreneurs and the local populations, but especially also to the advantage of foreign buyers and importers. They can buy now and in future always carpets from India without any bad feelings.

“India is committed to all social and environmental compliances and has strict child labour laws. He further said that the CEPC in its mandatory Code of conduct for its members has all these already outlined and the member in addition to strict legal action can also be debarred from its membership of the CEPC and denied all benefits as a member.” Said Mahavir Sharma, Chairman Carpet Export promotion Council (CEPC)

“This NCPCR report has strengthened our resolve to fight child labour issues and also show cases our hard work of the last 25 years and we intend to take strict legal action against organizations or agencies or film producers who create this false, fictional, unreasonable, biased and malicious propaganda for self-gain and in bargain tarnish the image of the entire industry and the country as a whole.” Said Mr Sharma

“There are many initiatives which CEPC has planned for 2019-20. It has launched a new social media marketing and branding campaign Indian manufacturers are very adaptive to new colours, designs, raw materials and products. And this trend will continue to grow in the right direction,” added Sharma.