TAINTED CARPETS SLAVERY AND CHILD LABOR IN INDIA’S HAND-MADE CARPET SECTOR

Siddharth Kara 2014

FXB Center for Health and Human Rights Harvard School of Public Health // Harvard University

Acknowledgments

This report is the culmination of the tireless efforts of numerous individuals. Eight field researchers in India braved extremely challenging and on occasion dangerous conditions in order to gather the data that is presented. Some of these researchers endured verbal and physical abuse during this project. In order to ensure their safety, their names have been withheld; however, they each have my utmost gratitude and admiration. Several colleagues also provided invaluable assistance during this project. Mathew John and Swami Agnivesh offered logistical support and local guidance during the field research. Jennifer Leaning, Jacqueline Bhabha, Arlan Fuller, Charlie Clements, David Yanagizawa-Drott, and my colleagues at Harvard University similarly provided tremendous support for this research as well as a fertile intellectual environment in which to design and execute this substantial undertaking. The project itself was made possible through the generous support of Google.org. Above all, I am deeply grateful to all the individuals who bravely shared their stories with the researchers. These individuals spoke out despite the risks, in the hopes that their otherwise silent voices would be heard and might motivate others to take action to ameliorate their suffering. There remains an excruciating degree of servitude and suffering in India’s hand-made carpet sector, let alone the rest of the country’s informal economy. I am confident I speak on behalf of everyone involved in this project that we hope the information presented in this report will stimulate a swift and sustained commitment by key stakeholders to see these offences eliminated.

— Siddharth Kara

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Table of Contents

Photos and Text © Siddharth Kara 2014. All Rights Reserved.

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1

Acknowledgments

6 – 7

1.

Executive Summary

10  – 13

2.

Overview of Research A. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES B. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY C. INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD D. SOURCES OF DATA E. DATA MANAGEMENT F. THE RESEARCHERS G. SITE SELECTION H. INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA I. REFERRAL NETWORK J. DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED

16  – 19

3.

Overview of Carpet Weaving in India A. HISTORY AND MARKET SIZE B. MANUFACTURE PROCESS C. HAZARDS FACED BY WORKERS

22  – 23

4.

Discussion of Relevant Law A. FORCED LABOR UNDER INDIAN LAW B. FORCED LABOR UNDER ILO CONVENTION (NO. 29) C. BONDED LABOR D. CHILD LABOR E. HUMAN TRAFFICKING

26  – 36

5.

Discussion of Results A. CASES DOCUMENTED B. PREVALENCE C. GENDER D. CASTE AND ETHNICITY E. HOME AND LAND OWNERSHIP

40  – 43

6.

Discussion of Specific Case Studies A. THE “NEW CARPET BELT” B. MUSLIM VILLAGES IN DEBT BONDAGE C. HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CHILD LABOR IN PANIPAT D. CHILD SLAVERY NEAR PATNA E. OTHER REGIONS OF CHILD LABOR

46  – 49

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Tainted Supply Chains: India to the United States A. THE HAND-MADE CARPET SUPPLY CHAIN B. SUPPLY CHAIN TRACING

52 – 53

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Recommendations

58– 64 66 – 67 68 – 69

Appendix Tables Bibliography Endnotes

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1. Executive Summary We work from seven in the morning until 10 at night. I sleep on that mat over there. I miss my family. I want to go home but the owner will not let us leave. — MALE CARPET WEAVER, AGE 14, BIHAR

THIS RESEARCH PROJECT IS:

1. The largest ever investigation into slavery and child labor in the hand-made carpet sector of India;



2. The largest single