JRF-Developing Dream World for Carpet Weavers & their Family

Simply creating carpets & rugs & making India a global champ in the home furnishing sector are not the only priorities that define the Jaipur Rugs role. Jaipur Rugs is one large family which considers its artisans, weavers & workers an integral part of this one big family. And, thus, the upliftment of these dedicated weavers is one of the topmost priorities of the company's development strategies.
To develop weavers and their family, Jaipur Rugs Company formed its social unit known as Jaipur Rugs Foundation in 2004. Jaipur Rugs Foundation is now involved in several economical and social programs of govt. and other agencies to uplift the quality of life of weavers & their families. We deals and works for the betterment of the carpet industry keeping the following goals in mind:

• Work towards eradicating social injustices.
• Increase the standard of living of the weavers.
• Offering regular work & right payment.
• Promotion of new designs as per the international demand so as to bring more work to the weavers thereby accelerating income and prosperity.
• Working for the empowerment of women. Empowering women for us implies influencing strongly not only on their economic life (income and earning potential) but also their personal life (self-esteem and influence on family decisions). We give them equal priority on wage levels, participation in decision-making and labor standards.
• Upliftment of the weavers' community by creation of facilities which enhance the efficiency of the weavers through carpet weaving which in turn lead to the economic growth of the industry.
• Nurturing ancient legacies.
• Enhancing the skill of the workers through training and exposure.
• Non involvement of middlemen, making the weavers free from exploitation and under payment.
• Promotion of research for new technology to bring the Indian carpet weaving industry closer to the international market.
• Helping the weavers in becoming productive and contributing members of their communities.
• Providing prospects for the overall personality development as health, education, including children's education etc.
• Welfare schemes through microfinance which help the artisans get motivated for becoming financially sound and able to hold assets like their own looms.

JRF is dream of its founder Mr. N. K. Chaudhary, who worked along with rural artisans for 30 years. He firmly believes that each carpet is the aesthetic sense and inner feelings of artisans, which is their power of expression. At present JRF has ensured sustained livelihoods to 25000 artisans in wool reeling, dyeing, carpet weaving, repairing and many downstream jobs in the production chain. We constantly strive to link the livelihoods of poor with markets and to bring them in the mainstream. Today weavers need to understand end customer and vice versa.

Achievements:
• Sustained Livelihoods to 25000 artisans
• Our intervention has provided additional income of Rs18000/annum to each artisan.
• The capacity building programmers have developed skilled human resource, capable to meet global challenges.
• Local youths employed as service providers to mobilize, generate awareness, ensure quality control and deliver services to artisans.
• Women constitute 80% of total artisans. Hence, a greater space for women empowerment
• Another 30000 artisans can be employed for the work.
• Linkages of artisan for insurance, health, banking through ICICI Lombard, artisan Health cards, and access to banks has enabled us to mitigate risks of artisans.
• Assured buy back arrangement through Jaipur Rugs Co. Pvt. Ltd has given surge and sustainability to the clusters.
• Some local success stories from rural India have began to surface.

Yogesh Chaudhary(Director)
Jaipur Rugs Foundation
http://www.jaipurrugs.org