About Us Details

About Us

        During the Second World War, when there was a shortage of goods and prices skyrocketed, the government imposed restrictions on the distribution of goods to provide relief to the public, so a cooperative society was established to request the government to make the raw materials used in the zari industry such as copper-silver-gold, silk and dyes-chemicals available to the public at reasonable prices. This society is The Surat Jari Goods Producers Co. Operative Society Ltd., which was registered in 6-12-1944. The society has established a rolling mill at Udhna to meet the requirements of the members for copper ingots.

        Initially there were only 61 members. The initial share capital of this organization promoted by artisans and traders was Rs. 14,780. The first founder president of this organization was Shri Ahmedbhai Abdelali Ziauddin. Since then, the society has been successfully managed for 82 consecutive years with the cooperation of its members.

        Today, the number of members of this organization is more than four thousand seven hundred. You can see that this organization has become a pillar in the textile industry, and after purchasing raw materials like gold-silver-copper-silk and dyes-chemicals, it distributes them to the members on a profit-loss basis. In addition, it also lends money to the members for the development of their business.

The objectives of the society

  • (1) To procure the required electrolytic copper, acid, cotton, silk and artificial silk yarns etc. and all the necessary equipment related to the zari industry for the members.
  • (2) Required information about the Jari industry... (a) Raw materials (b) Preparation goods (a) Buying and selling of pottery tools and machinery.
  • (3) To make arrangements for lending money to members on the basis of goods.
  • (4) To undertake activities that will help the industrial and business activities of the members and, if necessary, to open and operate factories, to purchase other metals, process them and sell them.
  • (5) To undertake such other activities as may be conducive to the general economic, social and educational advancement of the members and to the achievement of the objectives set out in (1) to (4).
  • (6) If the Managing Committee deems it necessary, it may decide to lend raw materials for the industry to the members on credit.

Bill Finance

For the purchase of raw materials, a "Goods Bill Finance" of up to Rs. 3,00,000/- is provided against the member's own direct purchase bill of any raw material used in the zari industry.

01 Jat – Jamin (Cash) Loan

With the aim of helping small industrialists financially in the business sector, collateral loan is provided up to a limit of Rs. 1,00,000/-.

02 Term Loan (Against Real Estate)

"Term loan" is given to the members against the value of immovable property within the limit of Rs. 5,00,000/-.

03 Provision of raw materials at reasonable prices for members (goods credit)

The society makes copper wire spools from copper coils as per the requirement of the zari industry and provides copper to the members at very reasonable prices. And also sells German brass wire spools, gold and silver ingots as per the requirement of the members at very reasonable prices. This directly benefits the members. But at the same time, other people engaged in the zari industry who are not members of the society also benefit indirectly.

History Of Jari Industry

        The jari is ancestral Industry and no body know when first jari was manufactured and which is its birth place. from citation in Vedas, Ramayana,Mahabharat and Samhitas it can be concluded that it is an ancient industry of India and as there is no mention about it in old books of foreign countries so its birth place is also India.

        It is oftenly claimed, India Learned this art of manufacturing jari from Mohamedans but it is not true as there is mention about Zari cloth in the voyage of Magasthenis and various other western literature. The origin and existence of Jari Industry dates back to ancient time but it reached it's zenith in Moghul period, it is believed.

        In the Medieval period, under the pantronage of Moghul Emperors and Princely protection, the indusrty was well settled and ad also acquired export market in the west. Surat, at that time known as "CHORASI BUNDER NO VAVTO" was having sea connections with almost all major countries of the world. During period of Moghul and thereafter, Surat was the largest and important port on west cost of India.

        In 1614, The British - East India Company came to Surat, at it was the business, commercial and industrial center on West coast of India. East India Company first established their factory in Surat. Jari being an article of wear and ornamentation, it was very much liked by the European Community. Thus the port of Surat played a decisive role in establishment of Jari Industry.

        Surat at that time was not only famous for its Jari Industry, but also reputed for pure silk cloth popularly known as Gaji Silk, and Mashru, Jewellery, Cotton clothing from surrounding districts. The other handicrafts of Surat were Ivory carving work, Sandalwood engraving work, Brass and other inlay work on wood, Lacquer work etc.

        In Moghul days, Surat was a prosperous port which was connected by road with Agra having established heavy trade between the two cities. The people from divert races from varios parts of country were attracted to do business and establish industry and they settled in Surat.

        Besides from trading center, the port of Surat was also an important center for jari for pilgrims who visited during to and fro voyages of Haj. The pilgrims were Tanchhoi, Gold borders, Alluring Jari Embroideries and other various handicrafts.

        This regulas patronage of Haji, Sheikh and Moghul kings combined to foster classes of artisans and craftman who turned out beautiful and artistically designed finished product of Silver thread and Gold thread for producing beautiful brocades, borders and embroideries.

        Prior to Moghul period exports of jari thread was there but during Moghul regime and early British rule it has reached its peak. During this period Surat was popularly known as Jari City.

        To be on safe side, it can be said 95% of the artisans of the finished products known as raw materials for textile industry are hindu and that too from only one backward jari community known as RANA. They produced all type of raw marerial in Jari for use by its other ancillary industry like machine embroidery, hath-ari work, machine ari work, Tarkam embroidery, Jardoshi emboidery, hand-loom weaving, jacquard weaving, tanchhoi weaving, jari- malmal weaving, panetar and so on. These ancillary industry situated throughot whole of India. Every town and village have a small unit carrying on its manufacture activities. All this anacillary industry product are jari product but while exporting are not classified as Jari product.

        Like other industries jari Industry also has faced ups and downs and struggled to survive. premitive manufacture remained as Hindu Origin and other ancillary industry were developed and mastered by various sect including Hindu, Muslim, Parsi, Christian, Sikh....

        The Government desires to give protection to this industry but due to secrecy nature of industry, the artisans does not help the desire to be materialized. On the other hand Government is giving promotion to exports by allowing drawback on copper content in Jari. At other State and Central Government is collecting heavy tax on raw materials and intermediates used by the Industry. The Government should consider refund of this also like drawback so as to enable exporter of our country to stand in keem cut-throat competition in International Market.