Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 9

The Nepal Rugmark Foundation, during its seventh annual general assembly, approved a budget of Rs 2,35,32,522 for the year 2004/05 today.

Addressing the inaugural function, Hari Bahadur Basnet, minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, said that the government is committed to put an end to child labour from all sectors, including the carpet factories.

Lauding the foundation’s efforts in eliminating child labour from carpet factories, minister Basnet further said, “I hope the foundation is able to inspect all the carpet factories in the future and certify ‘free of child labour’ in all the carpets exported abroad.”

Odegard Inc of the USA and Teppich Kibek and Mobel Craft of Germany received commendation letters for being the first three industrialists to have imported carpets with the Rugmark certification in the year 2002-03. Similarly, letters of appreciation were given away to Ratna Carpets, Tinchuli-Boudha, Gomang Carpet Manex, Katunje-Bhaktapur and Karki Carpet, Sinamangal, for being the first three entrepreneurs to have exported the carpets.

Similarly, the Formation Carpet, Ekantakuna-Lalitpur, Pan-Himalayan Carpet Industries, Boudha, and Nepal Carpet Enterprises, Narayansthan, received prizes for fulfiling their social and environmental obligations. Awards and letters of commendations were given away to children for their academic excellence. The foundation also acknowledged the efforts of its employees who have been working with the foundation for a long time.