Social Orientation

In the recent past, there has been a welcome quality change in
the outlook among the Indian carpet dealers. Started by Anisa
Carpets Limited, who were the first to apply for a certificate in
handmade carpet industry for
Social Accountability from BSI and got it only last year which
is proudly displayed in their Bhadohi and London office.

A few months back I met Indra Mohan Srivastava, Management
Consultant of Constraarch - Mansys, who told me that many
carpet exporters have applied for this certificate in recent
past and SA 8000 certificates will be bestowed to them
in the near future. 

Indra Mohan told me that Consraarch has two offices in
Uttar Pradesh, one in Moradabad and other in Lucknow.
He further told me that Contraarch are enlisted consultant
with New York Based Social Accountability International (SAI)
and without their recommendation this certificate can not
be issued. He visits Bhadohi often to complete the cases
and also to market this service.  

I believe this is a very welcome sign and hope that more
and more carpet dealers will get connected to this and
ISO. They shouldn't only get connected to it just to observe
the by laws set by BSI but they are needed to go some
extra miles. 

There are many justifiable reasons for taking that extra
mile. One genuine reason is that we are carrying with
us a stigma - stigma of child labor - on our shoulder for
over a decade. I believe by going that extra mile will
help us mitigate this dishonor.  

We need an image makeover. That is possible only
when we prepare ourselves for going that extra
distance. SA 8000 and ISO can help us greatly for
that image change.  

We have already suffered greatly. No one believes
us if we say that our carpets are free from child labor.
For over a decade we are using labels declaring that
carpets being exported are free from child labor.
When will we get rid of this practice? Perhaps,
SA 8000 has come our way as a blessing in disguise.
It, most probably, is going help us get rid of our
tarnished image. Won't it?

--------------------------------

Notable note:

Do you know that Sachin Tendulakar's total
tax exemtion was Rs. 8.87 crore during
1998-99 and 2004-05?

“The new way of watching TV” and “All the things you love about TV, fused with all the fun and interactive power of the internet.”

The website of Joost so announces on it home page. Joost
is basically internet TV.Its quality is high. Download the
beta version of the client software. You will find
it far superior than other video on the internet. Overall,
the video quality isn’t as
good as TV but the advantages are many.

But wait! You can not see its TV program unless you get
an invite. In the meantime enjoy IBN Live 

On Anvil: Relief For Exporters

Fast appreciation of rupee has hit hard to the Indian exporters. Most of the exporters make their invoice in dollar term as such they are losing more than 8 per cent.

Exports grew at a very healthy rate for the last three years however, it seems exports are decelerating. According to the all India figure, released by Department of Commerce, export growth has decelerated to 5.2% in January, 7.8% in February and 8.84% in March 2007 and, no one has any doubt that the single most decelerator is the appreciation of rupee.

An internal study conducted by the Commerce Ministry reveals that the textile industry, one of the largest employment generators in the country, appears to be severely hit by the hardening of rupee.

What is true with textile industry is also true for carpet industry because most of our exports are price sensitive and mostly invoiced in US dollar. In that situation it would be hard to meet the target set by carpet exporters.

Government is deliberating to find mechanism to offset the losses to exporters. Support packages are on its way and are expected to be cleared within a month. The packages that are on the anvil are: refund of certain taxes; reducing premium on insurance cover on exports; reducing ECGC premium rate by 10%; enhance duty drawback by 5% and rates of duty neutralization schemes like Duty Entitlement Pass Book; reducing interest rate on pre and post shipments to 6%; paying interest on Exchange Earner’s Foreign account; Service Tax exemption etc.

In the last two month the rupee has risen by 13% which is having an impact on orders besides it is also causing employment loss. It is expected that export will dip drastically if these measures are not taken immediately.

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Enjoy the video: Rjnikant Ka Baap

BlackBerry

Just launched BlackBerry Pearl is now available is now available in Pearl White and Piano Black colors. Among the feartures what is notable is that it provides location-based service.
You simply need to enter your destination. A map appears showing the way.
Other features of that this mobile incorporates are such as personal e-mail, instant messaging, and Web browsing. It has a 1.3 megapixel camera with 3 zoom levels (up to 5X), and built-in flash.
The BlackBerry Pearl also features "myFaves" that allows users to have quick, one-touch access to their favorite five friends and family members. In addition to calling, instant messaging, and texting, sending an email to one of the five favorites is also just a hit away.
For complete information Click Here
Won't it be a great device for exporters who frequent their business jaunts so very often?

George Bush’s watch gets stolen

Bruce Schneier’s posts have detail of this theft. Bush was in Albnia when this happened – cheering in Fushe Cruja. Bush is wearing the watch in a 50 second clip but it is missing 14 second later.

America denies the alleged theft. But you can see this video

DOMOTEX Middle East 2007

Sultan bin Saeed Al-Mansouri opens DOMOTEX Middle East 2007

Opening DOMOTEX Middle East 2007, the region's only specialised flooring and carpet exhibition, Al-Mansouri said: 'It is very important to have a local flooring industry of high quality, and what I have seen is very encouraging, since many companies from the region, such as those from Saudi Arabia, are competing on an international level.'

The event is open until 8pm on Wednesday (June 13) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

'This is an important exhibition, particularly with the tremendous growth in the real estate sector the UAE is witnessing, namely in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman,' added Al-Mansouri.

'I have seen companies exhibiting flooring products that are also environmentally friendly, which is in line with the construction trends in the region.'

DOMOTEX Middle East 2007 features 269 exhibitors from 37 countries, including first-time representation from Cyprus, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Norway and Poland. In addition to the country pavilions from Belgium, China, India and the USA, this year's show also welcomed the country pavilion debuts of Afghanistan, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands.

For full story see Ameinfo.

Courtesy: Ameinfo

Bhadohi 1972

Year 1972: Curfew was clamped in Varanasi. CARY WOLINSKY, a 25-year-old photojournalist Boston was confined to his room in a Varanasi hotel. He was here for stories for National Geographic and other photo magazines. Luckily, he met Naseeruddin Ansari of Bhadohi. Ansari told him about his business and invited him to Bhadohi and he was enamored with appealing sight of the town. What followed was visual odyssey through the vibrant culture of textiles across a dozen countries including India.

Wolinsky’s works will be showcased at the Pucker Gallery in Boston from June 9 to July 8. Many of them, I believe will cover photographs from our carpet industry. Just take dip at HARSH KABRA’s beautifully illustrate Voyages of Discovery

Buy/Sell Exchange

On the net there are many buy/sell exchanges from where Carpet Exporters can derive great benefits. One of them is The Federation of International Trade Association. Its primary membership is free but you have to pat $ 69.95 for a month's subscription that too for a limited period.

Here buyers place there requirements and I believe, Carpet importers also visit this website not only to place there requirements but looking for carpet manufacturers who can best serve their requirement. Just click here and take a look.

DOMOTEX MIDDLE EAST

To day DOMOTEX Middle East (11 - 13 June) opens its gates to the visiting public in Dubai. Around 260 exhibitors from 36 countries will be exhibiting their floor coverings in this trade fair.

There is a construction boom in the Gulf Region. The "Al Reef Villas" project in Abu Dhabi consists of 2,500 villas and 1,700 apartments in the medium price range. Other examples include the "Saadiyat Island" project (which will house 150,000 inhabitants) and "The Gate" (designed for 120,000 residents). These and other projects are generating sales potential for floor covering manufacturers. Against this background DOMOTEX Middle East will function as the ideal stepping-stone to these growth markets.

DOMOTEX Middle East which made its debut only last year has attracted many Indian carpet manufacturers who will be exhibiting their range of rugs there.

A special feature of this fair is that, for the first time in Dubai, a Carpet Design Awards will be held. I hope Indian brethren also not only win design award but also succeed in bagging huge orders for carpets.

To Save The Earth - Earn Carbon Quotient

Though the phenomenon of global warming is not new but the understanding about it is quite recent. For the last few years we have seen much devastation around the world believed to be the consequence of global warming. I wouldn’t be surprised if scientists proclaim that global warming was the cause of Cyclone Gonu, the strongest tropical storm to have hit the region in several decades, which traumatized Oman only a few days back.

The world has come to a brink of great disaster and urgent steps are required to arrest the alarming approach of global warming. In a recent United Nations debate, United Kingdom argued that Security Council should take a central role in responding to climate change. Not only the people at higher ups are worried but the awareness is increasing even in common people. Unless a source of clean energy is found in abundance, not only the Scientist and governments but common people too need to watch their activity and refrain from doings that helps lessen the warming of the globe.

Earning CARBOB QUOTIENT (CQ) is a way common people should take part to lessen the effect of global warming. What is needed is that people should watch their activity and try to earn as much CQ as possible. The more the consumers consume the amenities of life the more it will add to global warming. For instance the person who consumes 5 buckets of water to bath adds more CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the environment than the person who consumes one bucket for the same purpose (we need one bucket of water for a bath but a shower bath takes 5 bucket). That means the person who uses one bucket of water earn more CQ (to pump water we need electricity and electricity is produced by burning fossil fuel – greatest cause for global warming).

The objective is that people should resort to eco-friendly activity and participate in activities that helps stop the fast approach of global warming. We earn more CQ when we use CFL instead of bulb, travel by train instead of traveling by air, for short distance riding we use bicycle instead of using motorized vehicles (in most western countries, cycle ride has re-emerged due to this awareness).

The need is that every individual should keep a watch of his activities and restrain themselves from extravaganzas, earn as much CQ as possible and be a part of this international mission to stop the climate change..

(Artisans (carpet weavers) are the greatest earner of Carbon Quotient. Any doubt!)

Maya Magic

Year: 1982 (?); Event: Visit of then U P Chief Minister, Vishwanath Pratap Singh to Bhadohi Handmade Carpet Industry on invitation from AICMA.

Many banners were hung across the road to welcome V P Singh, Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh but the unforgettable streamer that amused most was:

NEGLECTED BHADOHI – WELCOMES V P SINGH CHIEF MINITER UP

The chat about the banner made the environment high spirits at All India Carpet Manufacturers Association (AICMA) where the delegates and Industrywallahs assembled to hear the CM. In a warm and happy atmosphere interaction began. Promises were made for developing the Bhadohi infrastructure to a high standard. But to our great dismay, nothing came out. Our hopes were shattered perhaps because in the following year, V P Singh no more held the Chief Minister’s chair.

The poor infrastructure of Bhadohi which is a center for all carpet related activity has always been a great cause of worry. Simply because the frequent visit of buyers made the exporters uneasy by their sarcastic query about the cause of the poor condition of its infrastructure especially of its potholed roads. Industry was worried and AICMA made innumerable presentation to both state and central government but nothing came mentionable.

Hopes of the industry was revived when, Mayawati, present Chief Minister UP, won the election with absolute majority only last month. In a huge press conference in the national capital she said that her “foremost priority will be to establish rules of law” and promised to make Uttar Pradesh “Uttam and Khushal Pradesh” (superior and prosperous state). And, people’s faith in her was strengthened when she got her own party MP arrested and suspended him from her own party soon after.

And, isn’t it the Maya Magic that babus’ attendance in government offices has become timely and there has been a visible change in the pace of all pending files. The newly nominated minister Rangnath Mishra and this area's MLA, Archana Saroj, has, in a public meet, promised that all roads will be complete within 3 months and erratic electric supply to this industrial town will be corrected. And lo! Soon after the work on road started and electric supply too has improved.

I hope Mayawati’s magic wand named “social engineering” will enchant not only the people of Uttar Pradesh but it will spread beyond engulfing the whole country and paving the way for her to the prime ministerial chair.

Handmade Carpets & Clean Energy

The intimidating approach of global warming is hair-raising. Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth is a proof. But that doesn’t mean there is no solution. Renowned scientists, all over the world, are burning their midnight oil to find solution of this problem. Within next twenty years we may see the contemporary combustible engines, the greatest polluter of environment, replaced with hybrid cars and then fuel cell cars – vehicles run by hydrogen – that generates no pollution in the environment.

Another invention to fight global warming is also expected within the next 20 years. Perhaps in less than 20 years, while traveling on highways we may find cluster of towers similar to windmills. These towers will trap carbon dioxide (CO2) – the byproduct produced by burning of fossil fuel and main cause of global warming – and send it deep underground.


But much more measures are needed to arrest advance of the lurking disaster. One of them is to produce clean energy, because conventional way of producing energy generates lots of pollution. The requirement of energy will be ten times more than what it is now after a couple of decades. Alternatives are being probed to produce clean energy.

In that dismal scenario it is a bit relieving to realize that clean energy is used in production of handmade carpets. After all what energy can be cleaner than human energy! That is labor of the weaver. Won’t it be then better that handmade carpets' or any handicrafts’ sale is promoted with more gusto?

The Product

The hand-knotted pile carpet probably originated in Central Asia between the 3^rd and 2^nd BC and arrived in India during Mughal period. Bhadohi happen to be a center simply because some people of an Iranian caravan while passing through GT road were, for health reason, compelled to settle in a near by village called Ghosian and started weaving this product. To day it has become an INR 3600 crores industry. Almost all the produce is exported out of India.

Besides having a social orientation, we are also committed to sell rugs made of natural materials only. The first product on offer is a shag rug. We have named it SilverMeadow. It is an all wool rug. See the image below:

The product is already having been tested in the market. A similar rug (not exactly the same) is sourced by a Sweden based chain stores in great quantity