GUWAHATI, March 15 - The Textiles Committee of the Union Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with the office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) under the same ministry, organised a capacity building workshop on March 14 at the Assam Administrative Staff College here said a press release today.
The theme of the workshop was �IPR Protection through Geographical Indications (GI), Act and Post GI initiatives�. Officers from the offices of the Development Commissioner (DC) for Handlooms and Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, besides officers representing governments of the north-eastern states participated in this programme.
The Geographical Indication Act of India stipulates protection of unique textile and handicraft products of India having unique qualities associated with the production area. The registration provides much needed protection against infringement, besides helping in promotion of the products in the market.
As on date, 270 unique products of the country have been registered under the GI Act, 1999, out of which 151 belong to the unique textile and handicraft sectors. However, more eligible products from the north-eastern states may require such protection under the said Act, so as to contain infringement and support the original stakeholders to reap premium price associated with those products.
The workshop was aimed at creating awareness and equipping the officers of different agencies with the know-how on the Geographical Indications Act, 1999 and post-GI initiatives for safeguarding the interests of the grassroots level stakeholders associated with the unique handloom and handicraft products of the country.
The workshop was inaugurated by Gokul Mohan Hazarika, Director, Administrative Staff College, Guwahati as the chief guest. S Bandopadhyaya, Director, Weavers Service Centre, office of the Development Commissioner (Handloom) addressed the gathering as a guest of honour. G Sarkar, Deputy Director, Department of Handloom and Textile, Government of Assam also addressed the gathering as a special guest.
TK Rout, Deputy Director, Textiles Committee, Union Ministry of Textiles; Siddhartha Devnath, scientist, Assam Science and Technology Council and Krishna Kumar, market research officer, Textiles Committee, presented the legal and procedural aspects of the GI registration before the participants.
The speakers stressed the need for registration of more and more unique textile and handicraft products of the North East under the Geographical Indication Act, 1999 for better protection and promotion of the products.
