OBJECTIVES

1. To bring together under a common umbrella, the Societies, Trusts, Co-operative organizations and self help groups involved in economic empowerment / development programs through production and marketing of products and / or services on fair trade principles and those who are involved in supporting, facilitating and co-coordinating the economic empowerment programs and the efforts of marginalized groups of people and serve their collective and common interest.

2. To promote and facilitate sharing of information, experience and learning and knowledge building among target members / action groups that would help them strengthen their entrepreneurial capabilities and to build-up self-confidence leading to economic and social empowerment.

3. To help the marginalized groups of producers / artisans towards fair and just production opportunities and facilitate them in marketing their products.

4. To make sustained efforts and facilitate in initiating, expanding, strengthening and maintaining fair-trade / marketing network across the country for various produce that comes from member organization and the client producer –groups and to sponsor, establish and support sales-outlets, organize exhibitions and fairs and extend support to such ventures where all possible in help marketing the products and thus facilitate fair income to artisans.

5. To take-up, negotiate, co-operate and strength fair trading prospectus through information-sharing, training, networking and through lobbying and advocacy as well as establishing linkages with local, national governments and through various agencies supporting fair trade initiatives for economic and social empowerment of marginalized people.

6. To organize, facilitate and coordinate counseling and training programmes for member organizations and their client groups on various issues / aspects of fair trade of eco and environment friendly products protection of human rights, light to life, environment and ecology aspects either directly or in collaboration with component agencies and provide such facilities as may be necessary for different stakeholders.

7. To facilitate skill and knowledge improvement on design and product development, quality standards, value addition, adoption of required intermediary and appropriate technology, professional and sound management practices, Code of ethics and social accountability aspects of various programmes / initiatives that are focused towards economic empowerment, capacity building, safety of the target partners.

8. To establish, organize and facilitate five different regional chapters (as east, West, North, South and Northeastern states of India) covering all the states and Union Territories of India and to initiate / support needed programmes for Member Organizations all these regions.

9. To co-operate and collaborate with other agencies, both non-government and governmental agencies at local, national and international level and administer schemes and programmes for the cause of fair trade, benefit of Member Organisation and the marginalized groups of producers all over the country.

10. To facilitate, arrange undertake and co-ordinate pilot Projects, test-marketing efforts, sales promotional ventures, publicity campaigns, exposure and exchange visits any market promotion tours, market study and research, consumer education and such other activities and periodically organize workshops, seminars, conferences directly or jointly with competent agencies that would help, strengthen the fair trade initiatives.

11. To assist and guide the member organizations to make appropriate changes in their efforts to strengthen fair trade initiatives and facilitate financial, technical and other support from government and national and international financial institutions and Donor agencies.

12. To purchase, take on loan or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire property, moveable or immovable and any rights or privileges which may be deemed necessary or convenient for the purpose of the Society and to build and maintain infrastructural facilities such as houses, sales outlets, showrooms or to alter improve, develop, manage, sell, lease, mortgage, dispose off or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property of the society.

13. To accept subscriptions, any gift of legacy in favour of the Society whether subject or not, to any special trusts or conditions for the furtherance of any of the objects of the Society.

14. To seek, receive and accept financial assistance by way of loans or to avail credit discounting of bills, cash credits, Bills purchase facility and cheques (Inland and foreign) other Financial Institutions from time to time for the better functioning of the society and to organize working capital to assist the member organisations as may be required.

15. To work jointly or seek membership or get affiliated to or amalgamated or incorporated with any other national and / or international institutions or association or bodies having similar objectives to any of those of the Society and co-operate with any person or persons in pursuance of such objects of the society.

16. In short, to do or cause to be done any and all such activities or things that shall be conducive to social, economic, cultural, educational, ethical, civic and physical welfare of marginalised groups of people and the Member Organisations requiring support and assistance of the Forum, provided such things or acts are not contrary to nor inconsistent with the sprit and principles of law under which this Society is being organized and registered.

17. To draw make, accept, discount, endorse, execute, discharge and issue cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange etc to raise loans and accept advances or any other negotiable or transferable instruments.

18. All the incomes, earnings, movable, immovable properties of the society shall be solely utilized and applied towards the promotion of its aims and objectives only as set-forth in the Memorandum of the Society and no profit there of shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividends, bonus, profits or in any manner what so ever to the present or past members of the society. No member of the society shall have any personal claim on any movable or immovable properties of the societies or make any profit whatsoever by virtue of his membership, provided nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith, reasonable and proper remuneration to any officers, employers or servents of the Society or to any member thereof of other persons in return for any services actually rendered to the Society.