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The Textile Magazine
jANUARY 2012
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65
plummet due to contractors impos-
ing unfair pricing practices when
purchasing carpets at the village
level,” said Susan Chaffin, BCtA
Programme Manager. “We at BCtA
welcome Jaipur Rugs’ commitment
to creating new and sustainable job
opportunities for women and un-
skilled, low-income labourers in
villages, thereby enabling them to
earn a secure livelihood.”
According to the International
Labour Organisation, approxi-
mately 17 per cent of men and 66
per cent of women in rural villages
are unemployed. Among those that
have jobs, 30 per cent of men and
36 per cent of women live
below the poverty line.
Initiatives such as Jaipur’s
provide jobs and opportu-
nities to those people that
need it the most. Trained
weavers contracted through
Jaipur Rugs earn an average
of $300-$500 more per year
than unskilled artisans.
“Through this initiative,
we have the opportunity to
provide sustainable live-
lihoods to the poorest of
the poor in an economi-
cally disadvantaged region
of the world,” said Asha
Chaudhary, CEO
of Jaipur Rugs.
“Each time you
buy a rug and I
sell it, we con-
tribute to allevia-
tion of poverty
and create em-
ployment for unders-
erved communities.”
Since inception, Jaipur
Rugs has provided train-
ing to more than 28,000
low-income home-based
weavers and an addition-
al 12,000 wool spinners
and dyers. This latest
commitment by Jaipur
Rugs is part of the com-
pany’s long-term growth
strategy and plans to ex-
tend its market globally.
The Business Call
to Action is a global
initiative that seeks to
challenge companies to
develop inclusive busi-
ness models that offer
the potential for development im-
pact along with commercial suc-
cess. The initiative is the result of a
partnership between the Australian
Agency for International Develop-
ment, Dutch Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Swedish International De-
velopment Cooperation Agency,
UK Department for International
Development, US Agency for In-
ternational Development, United
Nations Development Programme,
UN Global Compact, Clinton Glo-
bal Initiative and the International
Business Leaders Forum to meet
the Millennium Development
Goals by 2015.
Companies report on progress
toward commitments on an annual
basis.
w
Corporate social responsibility