Carpet exports declining due to Govt?s faulty policies

The export of carpets to different countries has reduced considerably and the carpet manufactures here hold government?s short-sighted policies responsible for this recession.

The export of carpets to different countries has reduced considerably and the carpet manufactures here hold government’s short-sighted policies responsible for this recession.

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The exports to USA, Britain, Germany, Canada, Argentina and others show a decline, contrary to the government claim that exports have registered an upward swing.

According to Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), a government body working under Union Ministry of Textiles, out of the 12 Indian states which produce carpets, UP tops in its production. The major manufacturers are in Varanasi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Agra, Ghosi, Shahjahanpur etc.

Officials said that the Bhadohi-Mirzapur belt in UP produces maximum number of carpets in the country.

The carpets produced in the region are famous for the excellence in quality and design.

"The carpets woven in this region has a distinctive elegance and unmatched style that speak of a traditional creative influence. This is the reason why this belt contributes to a major chunk of export," president of All-India Carpet Manufactures’ Association Haji Shaukat Ali Ansari said.

“But now, the scenario has changed and carpet manufacturers of this region have been deprived of the facilities what they deserve.”

If the figures released by the CEPC are to be believed, the export of handicrafts including carpets to different countries like USA, UK, Canada, Argentina, Germany etc., have considerably decreased in 2004-05 as compared to 2003-04.

" No sincere effort has been made by the government to promote exports of Bhadohi carpets and this trade has been allowed to suffer due to negligence of this carpet belt," general secretary of All India Carpet Manufactures Association Avinash Baranwal told Hindustan Times.