About
OVERVIEW
Our logo assures you that
Our products
a. honour and protect indigenous cultural heritage and traditions of the Kullu Valley
b. improve the livelihoods and well being of disadvantaged artisan groups by propelling them toward a financial self sufficiency
The social impact statements that most closely apply to our organization's mission statement
Economic empowerment and value, Quality of life in the community, Preserving tradition and cultural legacies
Our organization screens
Raw materials, Production process, Business practices
How often our organization monitors compliance of our standards
Quarterly, At random
How our organization monitors compliance of our standards
On-site audit, Self reporting
Our mission statement
Preserve Himachal culture, promote, support and expand social and economic interests of Himachal Pradesh and its people worldwide.
The history of our organization
My Himachal was founded in 2006 by friends of Himachal Pradesh in USA with a mission to preserve Himachal culture, promote, support and expand social and economic interests of Himachal Pradesh. In 2008, My Himachal became a tax exempt (501(c)(3)) , Charitable, Non-profit, Non-governmental organization, made up of people of Himachal origin and friends worldwide.
Our organization's standards for producers, products, or sellers
How we developed our standards
At the beginning, we invited young professionals to help us to organize our producer-retailer model, on a volunteer basis. Then, we hired personnel to do the ground work with producer groups with financial aid from our other local activities.
This has helped us form detailed guidelines to offer e-commerce based tools to the artisans as an alternative to sell their products and to make a social impact in their communities.
Summary of our process for screening new producers, products, or sellers
a. First we collect information regarding the co-operative societies and other producer groups in the area.
b. Then we compare each of these against an eligibility criteria developed by us to ensure only producer groups complaint with our standards of quality and ethics are selected.
c. We contact these associations and invite their members for a discussion about our organization and intended activities.
d. Then, the interested people fill our application form. We schedule a visit with them; we meet the members, and spend considerable time to know their production processes, expectations, their members and their families. Then, we send a report to our organization.
e. The accepted groups undergo an “Induction Program” where we brief them about our standards of quality, business practices and ethics.
f. We visit them periodically and randomly, to check their compliance and also to understand their problems and challenges that emerge continuously.
How we regularly monitor compliance of our standards
Our monitoring process including who performs the monitoring
We will organize several visits to the communities we work with.
a. Previously Announced: to visit all the members, to share experiences, and skills with all or at least the majority of members in one community. This visit is performed by commissioned member around thrice an year
b. Random: To evaluate the goals accomplishment and the social practices. This visit will be performed by mostly technical advisors, partners, or clients who evaluate the practices and the impact of our programs on the community's life. With this we try and ensure
i. The higher margins derived by sale of products are being filtered down to the artisan
ii. The basic facilities are delivered to the artisan
iii. Any promised or stipulated improvement in the quality of life of the weaver is being adhered to.
c. Before Shipment : Since we primarily deal with handloom products where compatibility of final products to the samples can vary majorly, we will have a trained personnel familiar with the industry to perform a quality check on goods being shipped. This is to ensure the variability is kept in check within the tolerance limit. Here we ensure
i. That the wool used is genuine
ii. That the product is handcrafted
iii. The design is as ordered
The fee structure for our monitoring system
We ask for a commission for every product sold via us. Since the whole point of this set up is economic empowerment and, the products commission will be incorporated in their cost analysis.
Monitored regions
Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India
More information about our organization
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Please contact us via email at savetheweaver@myhimachal.com