JITO Exposed: Is It Really Working for the Jain Community?

Chittaranjan

The Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) was established with a noble vision—to unite Jain businessmen, professionals, and youth on a global platform, foster entrepreneurship, and promote socio-economic empowerment within the Jain community. Over the last two decades, JITO has made efforts to build a network of influential individuals and host high-profile events. However, when measured against its mission and the vast potential of the Jain community worldwide, the organization faces several challenges that limit its true impact.

Limited Reach Compared to Jain Population

Globally, the Jain population is estimated to be over 10 million, spread across India and diaspora hubs in the US, UK, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Yet, despite over 20 years of existence, JITO has fewer than 20,000 members.

With only 77 Indian chapters and 32 international chapters, its footprint remains relatively narrow. Large portions of the community—particularly those in smaller towns, villages, and emerging diaspora centers—remain disconnected. This limited grassroots presence highlights the gap between JITO’s vision of inclusivity and its current reach.

Exclusivity and Elitism

Many people feel that JITO works more like a private club for the super-rich and VVIPs. Over time, the organization has built an image of focusing mainly on big industrialists, business tycoons, and large corporate families. Its events and programs often seem designed for them, while ordinary Jain professionals, start-ups, and small or medium business owners don’t get the same importance or opportunities.

Because of this, JITO is often seen not as an open platform for the whole Jain community, but as an exclusive group limited to the wealthy. This creates a distance between the organization and most Jains who are not part of the elite. Young professionals, budding entrepreneurs, and middle-class business owners—who are actually the real strength and future of the community—often feel left out, underrepresented, and excluded from JITO’s main activities.

Lack of Support for Youth & SMEs

Young people and small-to-medium business owners (SMEs) are an important and energetic part of the Jain community. They hold the key to its future growth, new ideas, and long-term success. But JITO has not yet built strong systems to support them. There are no proper mentorship programs, business incubation setups, or easy financial support schemes to help them grow and succeed.

Most JITO networking events often feel more like business transactions than opportunities for real growth. Senior members usually focus on luxury businesses, big companies, or their own image, instead of guiding young talent or sharing practical advice with upcoming entrepreneurs.

Even though the Jain community has plenty of wealth, business knowledge, and resources, JITO has not launched any big incubator, accelerator, or seed-funding project. Because of this, young professionals and smaller entrepreneurs are left with a gap between their potential and the real opportunities available to them.

Disconnect Between Identity and Practice

JITO introduces itself as a big Jain organization, highlighting Jain heritage, values, and business skills. But sometimes, its actions do not match the core principles of Jainism.

For example, JITO has held events in places where non-vegetarian food is served or where the environment is not in line with Jain traditions. This has upset many community members, because Jainism is strongly based on ahimsa (non-violence) and strict vegetarianism.

When such things happen, people begin to doubt whether JITO is truly working for Jain values, or if it is just using the Jain name to build prestige, attract sponsors, and grow its business network.

If JITO wants to represent Jains worldwide, it must follow Jain ethical and cultural principles as seriously as it promotes business and networking. Otherwise, it creates confusion and disappointment among members, who expect it to truly reflect the philosophy and ethics of Jainism.

Poor Global Visibility

After more than two decades, JITO still struggles with low visibility outside Jain circles. Unlike other community-driven organizations that have made their mark on global forums, JITO has yet to emerge as a lobbying or advocacy body for Jain values, sustainable business, or ethical trade practices.

At international platforms like the UN, World Economic Forum, or global sustainability summits, JITO’s presence is either negligible or absent. This lack of positioning reduces its ability to project Jain principles—like non-violence, business ethics, and philanthropy—to the world stage.

Leadership Bottleneck

Another significant issue is the leadership structure within JITO. Positions of influence often circulate within the same wealthy families and business networks. This creates a bottleneck that prevents the infusion of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

Moreover, the absence of transparent and democratic processes in leadership selection reduces credibility and discourages participation from wider sections of the Jain community. A broader, more inclusive leadership model could have made JITO more dynamic and forward-looking.

A Roadmap for Reinvention

JITO carries immense promise—it has the resources, intellectual capital, and global Jain population to become a transformative body. However, its current limitations—restricted reach, elitist image, weak youth engagement, lack of value alignment, poor international visibility, and leadership bottlenecks—prevent it from fulfilling its full potential.

For JITO to truly rise as a global force, it must:

Expand grassroots connectivity and inclusivity.
Build genuine support structures for youth, start-ups, and SMEs.
Realign its activities with Jain values and ethics.
Enhance global advocacy for Jain principles.
Democratize leadership to invite fresh talent and ideas.

Only then can JITO evolve from being perceived as an elite networking club to a transformative institution that uplifts the entire Jain community and contributes meaningfully to the global stage.