Fair Trade & India
Hey,
So thought we’d try something a little different today. I know we’re African Art Blog and all, but come on – everyone needs a little variety. This weekend got me really fascinated by Indian stuff (a friend’s Indian fiancee is in town, and it’s been great to hear about her home and its incredible cultures!). So here’s something different, hope you enjoy.
Why You Should Only Buy Fair Trade Handicrafts from India
An ancient country, India is full of diversity with cultures, traditions and lifestyles varying radically as you go from the North to the South and from the East to the West of the country. Exquisite, vibrant, spellbinding handicrafts have been the signature of Indian handicrafts for centuries. They have always been in demand by a world hungry for Indian artistry and craftsmanship.
The Fall & Rise of the Indian Economy
During the period of British rule, economic polices were formulated to enhance trade with foreign countries. These policies led to large scale foreign trade and enabled development of steel and textile industries. However, those same policies caused problems for Indian craftsmen and farmers. In the long run British policies favored imports rather than exports and production began a downward spiral. Rather than reinvesting in India, the British shifted approximately $1 trillion to other British holdings. By the time India gained independence in 1947, the economy was in ruins.
During her tenure as Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi steered India to a more economically sound position. Since 1991 India has enjoyed status as being one of the most affluent economies in the world. Indicative of the strides India has made are statistics such as in 1980 38% of the income was derived from agriculture whereas in 2001 it was only 24.7%.
Introducing Fair Trade Practice
All of these statistics give one the impression that all is well and good in India. This is a dreadfully wrong perception. The slums of New Delhi alone are home to 3 million of the poorest of the poor. These are people that have no education and no hopes of a better life for their children. That is, they have no hope without such programs as those of the Fair Trade groups.
Fair Trade simply means that for the work a person does, they should be paid a fair price or wage. The slums of New Delhi have poor water systems, no electricity, no paved roads and many live in sheer squalor. Fair Trade programs are helping to break the cycle of poverty by providing jobs with livable wages, providing training for jobs and funding schools to give children the advantage of an education. Fair Trade prevents exploitation of talented, illiterate people.
India has a rich tradition of beautiful art and handicrafts. Fair Trade programs utilize the native handicraft traditions and skills to produce goods for the market which in turn provides an equitable income to the worker. In remote areas where crafters were able to practice their craft, they often had no way of marketing their craft. Fair Trade groups have developed retail stores and websites to market the finely crafted goods. Routes are routinely travelled to pick up handmade goods from remote producers to be sold on the world market. This is a situation where everyone wins; the buyer gets wonderful Indian handicrafts and the crafter gets a fair price for their work along with the dignity that comes with making a livable income.
So, when you pick up that beautiful decorated rosewood jewelry box made in India by an Indian handcrafter, look for a Fair Trade Stamp or logo to make sure that you are helping make a life better. If you don’t see the Fair trade insignia, don’t buy it since you will merely be fattening the middle man’s wallet.
