WELCOME TO RUGMARK INDIA

 The looms of all licensees are regularly monitored through systematic random inspection by experienced and competent inspectors. They are trained employees of the RUGMARK Foundation.  To minimize the chances of connivance between the loom owners and inspectors, the inspectors do not know the looms they will be visiting on a particular day until that morning. The two person inspection teams are also changed periodically to prevent corruption.  The inspectors question any young looking weaver of his or her age. They also consider any empty seat at a working loom as having been vacated by a child and demand an explanation from the loom owner.  If children are detected at the looms during inspections, the RUGMARK foundation immediately withdraws the license of that carpet manufacturer. In that case none of his carpets can carry the RUGMARK label even if child labor is detected in only one of his looms.  Furthermore, even the local non-government organizations (NGOs) monitor the adherence to the RUGMARK regulations. Any non-compliance to these regulations also results in the withdrawal of the license.  The inspections are to be carried out in accordance with the methodology and procedures as laid down by the RUGMARK Foundation. Inspection activities cover not only weaving but auxiliary activities such as washing, clipping, dyeing etc.  

 RUGMARK Foundation (India) educates, rehabilitates and provides health care to the children removed from carpet weaving and also to the children of poor carpet weavers. It encourages community-based rehabilitation and runs various community development programmes.  RUGMARK opened its first primary school at Baribisa, Jagapur in 1996. From that day onwards RUGMARK has opened many schools and Balashrya (rehabilitation center) in the heart of the carpet belt for the rehabilitation of child weavers who had been freed from the looms of RUGMARK licensees or were children of carpet weavers. 

  Basically, the rehabilitation of children freed from the looms or the rehabilitation of the children of weavers is done in four ways:

1. Admission to schools
2. Admission to the Rehabilitation Centre
3. Helping children who have crossed the age of 14 to get admission to high schools if they wish to study further
4. Assistance in setting up a profession of their choice

  The Rugmark Label offers us the best possible assurance that no child labor was used during the manufacturing of carpets and rugs. Buyers of Rugmark carpet can take pride in knowing that: 

• A child's fingers did not make their carpet.  
• The loom and factory in which their carpet was made is registered with RUGMARK.  
• RUGMARK inspectors have open permanent free access to the loom or the factory where their carpet was made.  
• A portion of the price they pay goes to establishing schools and rehabilitation centers for carpet children.  
• They are helping to bring attention to the problems of child labor in the carpet industry. The RUGMARK label on the carpet is individually numbered, enabling its origin to be traced as a measure to minimize chances of counterfeits

  According to Section 3 of the 'Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986' of India, "No child" shall be employed or permitted to work in any of the occupations set forth in Part A of the Schedule or in any workshop wherein any of the processes set forth in Part B of the Schedule is carried on:  Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any workshop wherein any process is carried on by the occupier with the aid of his family** or to any school established by, or receiving assistance or recognition from, Government."  * "Child" means a person who has not completed his/her fourteenth year of age  ** "Family", in relation to an occupier, means the individual, the wife or the husband, as the case may be, of such individual, and the children, brothers and/or sisters of such individual RUGMARK: A step to overcome this problem. The problem of child labor is inter-linked with various socio-economic conditions. Poverty is considered its main cause, which leads to illiteracy, low productivity, poor health and low life expectancy.  The problem of child labor is thus a vicious circle. To help overcome this, RUGMARK is trying its best to break this circle by helping poor children. It provides free education unto primary level, text-books and uniforms. Besides it provides vocational training in many cases.  RUGMARK is spreading awareness among the people in the carpet belt about the abuse of child labor and making parents realize their responsibility towards their children.