Grameen Crafts & Grameen Network Society

There has been both a qualitative and quantitative expansion in the Indian domestic and export market for goods and services during the last decade. These expanding markets represent a great opportunity to generate new livelihoods through value addition to rural handicrafts, using simple labour intensive technologies. Unfortunately, this opportunity is lost to the vast majority of rural producer, especially the poor, because they lack access to a variety of enabling inputs and access to these modern markets.

If the rural poor are to derive new livelihoods by drawing upon expanding market opportunities as well as various self - employment and rural enterprises promotion programs, then it is essential that institutions and systems are set up to create market linkage between rural producer group and urban domestic & export markets. With a vision such as above, Grameen Craft & Grameen Network Society were formed.

Grameen Crafts (GC) International Marketing (Exports)

Grameen Network Society (GNS) National Marketing

GC was registered in the year 1995 under Indian Societies Act of 1860 & GNS was registered  under the same Act in the year 1997. Both these are two independent, autonomous and non-profit institutions, but, for cost saving both Societies are operating from the same office at Lucknow (U.P.) INDIA.

GC is registered as an Export Agency with the Reserve Bank of India and Office of the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to undertake direct exports and also obtained permanent FCRA number.

The main Mission, Vision & Objective of Grameen Crafts (GC) & Grameen Network Society (GNS) is 

"To work for the social and economic 
upliftment of artisans, craftsmen, small producers 
and entrepreneurs through fair trade"

GC and GNS both are supporting the rural artisans by providing employments to more than 30 number of groups consisting of more than 475 families. The  average monthly income is approximate US$55 which they get throughout the year. Out of this monthly income the ratio of Export to National market is nearly 60:40 respectively.

Besides supporting the artisans, GC is also involved in number of Welfare Schemes such are Child Education, Health Schemes (Mother & Child), etc.