Towards Reforming of Indian Carpet Industry

A little birdie whispered in my year that I am a stupid bum. See! Isn’t it the height of stupidity that I realized very late in life that I am a slow learner, perhaps, a bit tooo..slow. It was my dimness that I kept fooling around for years. But my disgruntlement vanished at least for a wee bit when I recalled that ‘it is never too late to take an initiative’. The cliché buoyed my spirit and I got the impression (?) that, perhaps, I too may turn a leaf. To give it a try, a several months back, I started blogging though not frequently.

Recently I dared to peep in the past (I have a bad memory; please correct me wherever I falter). If my memory serves right, I think Indian carpet industry grew very fast before 1990s. The whole industry was upbeat. Every carpetwallah was enjoying the fruits of the high demand of carpets pouring into the industry from overseas. The only worry was how to increase the capacity. Then suddenly as if from nowhere the demonic head of child/bonded labor appeared and stole the life-force out of carpetwallahs. Even the commoners were affected and why not! After all, each and every person’s earning was associated to this industry.

Just take a look at the present state of Indian economy. It is growing at a break neck speed. Its GDP which was a mere 1.3 % in 1991 is now nearing 10 per cent. Sensex in 1981 was 2000 which at present is hovering around 14000 and it is predicted that by 2010, it may touch 20000. Its export is growing at leaps and bounds. Not only that, in the last couple of weeks there has been M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) worth US$ 35 billion dollars. Every day in the morning when we grab the News Paper we find The Times of India announcing “India is Poised” for a change. No doubt India is Poised and the world is awed to see the great pace with which it is changing. No doubt, India’s economy is shining.

Carpet industry too grew but perhaps its pace was not fast enough
in relation to other industries, if we take into consideration of inflation.
Let us see if we can make its growth faster.

Let us go back once again. The row between NGOs and Carpet industry, which lasted for a long time, I believe, did the real damage. The situation most often was quite traumatic. Simply because the former was interested only in exposing large scale presence of child/bonded labor in the industry that too in full view of not only national but also international media. On the other hand the later desperately sought ways that would help them to stymie the design of the former. Neither of them required cooperation of the other for resolving the problem. However, if there ever was a meet, it ended only in heated fracas which only added fuel to the fire and hogged the attention of media to the maximum. The news became so substantial that it became an excellent feast to national and international news hungry populace. Resultant, our industry was hit hard.

Not only importers but also consumers shunned buying Indian carpets. Importers started demanding authentic certificate declaring that the carpet dispatched to them is free from unethical practices. That gave birth to labels like “Kaleen”, “Care & Fair” and “Rug Mark” that were engaged in the welfare of child/bonded labor.

I think that at no point of time, carpet industry ever felt the need to take upon themselves to scrutinize the problem closely and search out a solution for the problem. It, perhaps, took it for granted that, to eliminate child labor from the industry was the job either of Government institution or of NGOs. May be they were right. But, I believe that after years of struggle there has been no success. Labels are still used. It rather has become a norm. Buyers accept it without giving it a second thought. Exporters have also found a magic potion in it. Now, no one seems to be worried about child/bonded labor and their well being. All of them are happy to see the problem put under the carpet. Does this mean we keep our eyes closed towards this problem and let it be ensconced in its shell?

I think we should not leave the problem in its present state because, sooner or later, it is going to surface again. The fear of its re-emergence is not unreal especially after the new labor law effective from October 10, 2006. The probability, in my opinion, is that, if it reappears, it will do much greater harm than we can imagine. Are we prepared to face this unseen disaster? I hope that situation never comes. But, why not let us face it boldly and kill it before crises of such a large proportion heaves up its ugly head.

Don’t you think it is essential to change the tarnished image of carpet industry?

I feel certain that, to change the imperfect image of this industry, should be our primary objective. We have to change because we have to wipe out the stigma, the dishonor we are carrying far too long and this dishonor is lingering, perhaps in, both, our conscious and subconscious mind. At forums where we happen to represent our industry, we face a moral dilemma. We don’t find ourselves bold enough to face any question concerning the presence of this abuse in this industry. The fear of facing any query about this unethical practice saps our energy because such situations stop us from being bold and courageous. That lowly posture pushes our creativity and innovativeness at the lowest ebb. And when our creativity is at low key we can not be creative enough that help us lure foreign buyers.

I think, carpetwallahs little realize this hard reality which ultimately harms our industry significantly. But, if we aim to put the whole industry on a mission of resolving the problem with zeal in full view of the national and international media, not only our problem will be solved considerably but our battered image in the eyes of the buyers et al will be enhanced greatly. And, the greater benefit that we will reap is not only the inflow of orders from overseas but our energy level will get enhanced to a high degree that will only increase our creativity and innovativeness.

What we want from life?

Every one wants a life full of excitement, passion, energy and vigor and happiness. We know that crores of bank balance becomes useless if it can’t boost our life energy. What really matters to keep our adrenalin rushing is a purposeful objective – a value based objective that can put the whole industry on fire and restore the happy faces we experienced pre-nineties. And, I consider, no purpose would be greater than changing the flawed image of carpet industry into a blameless illustration. That is a huge dream and to realize such a dream we require a preparation that is tenable to each and every person of this industry.

I hope you all agree. If yes, let us pledge to change – change the blemished image of our industry. Let us find a formula that can help us solve this repulsive problem from its very root. Let us take our first step with the resolve of solving this exploitation. Let us tighten our belts and take the big leap forward. It could be hard to achieve this attractive dream. But who the hell says that any objective can be realized by dreaming with your eyes closed! If you want to achieve something great, the only way to achieve it is hard work, hard work and only hard work. I hope you all are prepared for the hard work. Aren’t you?

The question that comes up now is how to change our imperfect image?

The plan that is brewing in mind is: let there mushroom thousands of nonprofits and/or societies, that is, if there are one thousand carpet manufacturers worth their salt, let their be one thousand such organizations and if there are five thousand, let there be as many such organizations that will help cover every nook & corner of this cottage industry.

Why I advocate the setting up of so many social organizations at one go?

Firstly, we should bear in mind that ‘when a drop of water falls on a lake it looses its identity but the same drop of water when falls on a lotus leaf; it sparkles like a precious gem’. I would also like to quote here Mr Hayagreeva Rao, professor, Stanford University, who says, ‘There is an innovator in each one of us’.

These two truisms leave little doubt to decipher that every individual is a precious gem and innovator. We need only to treat them as such by letting them be the person in command of a plan designed for them by academics according to their strengths.. When he is in command of a plan he gets hugely motivated and when he knows that the credit for realizing the plan will go only to him, he develops a passion for achieving the accomplishment that helps him draw respect of others.

On the other hand, when he becomes a part of a big organization, he has to be depended on and what he gets from them is only instructions and orders. In such a situation bureaucracy sets in resultant he looses interest and get de-motivated and starts to distance him from such bureaucratic hassles.

Another reason for setting up thousands of such units is that we badly need develop our ‘Soft Power’. Yes! We need soft power simply because it attracts terrifically. Today India has become very attractive. It is changing so fast that the world is watching it with great interest. Its attractiveness comes not from hard power but from soft power. And the real benefit of soft power is that hard power (monetary power) automatically follows. Soft power comes when we can change ourselves and our society, fast. Remember The Times of India’s “India poised” campaign is a campaign for a change – change in its thinking and doing. And it is very much visible. Its magic can be seen at every forum where India represents on any national or international platform. .

There is an imperative need that carpet industry should also change its outlook and blend with main stream. That is possible when it becomes attractive to the world. There could be more than one way to make this industry attractive and when we bestow the power to each and every person to be in control of a plan, I feel certain that many persons will come forward with their innovative ideas.

How can this plan be put into practice?

The toughest part of any plan is to arrive at strategies that help us implement a plan. No doubt the problem is massive and it requires painstaking brainstorming sessions to arrive at a workable strategy. That means we need the help of an institution and its undivided dedication and involvement at every step of implementation.

Fortunately we have such an institution in Bhadohi itself. Yes, I am talking about Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT). I believe, this institution with its learned academicians is competent enough to brainstorm and find a strategy for drawing and implementing the plan.

In fact every individual respects the values of life – values that are sensitive to social mores – and carry an inherent quality of doing something purposeful for the common good. But he is limited both, by his age old practice of drawing maximum profit from his job and by not exactly knowing how to make his life meaningful for others as well as for himself. Though, in effect, he is self motivated and innovative. What is required is to create situations that enable resurrection of his inherent qualities. We also need to insure that he never faces an off-putting situation that de-motivates him.

Every society’s objectives must not be limited instead they must be given a choice from the many, many problems that are dogging this industry. What they need is not only mentoring and coaching about task to be performed on a continual basis but also help in discovering their hidden potentials. And, that, in my opinion, only a body of academics can carry out precisely.