The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Govt to publish draft IPR policy next month

Thiruvananthapuram March 21 The State Government intends to publish the draft of its policy on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on April 26, the World Intellectual Property Day.

Replying to a submission in the Assembly, the Law Minister, Mr M. Vijayakumar, said on Wednesday that the Government was committed to implementing a comprehensive policy to protect the interests of the State's rich traditional knowledge.

Wide-ranging discussions have been held with experts in this regard, the Minister informed the House. A draft policy framed during the period of the erstwhile government had proposed an umbrella body called IPMC (Intellectual Property Management Committee) under the Department of Law for coordinating all IPR activities in the State.

The draft policy, which aimed to promote inventions, innovations and patents from the State, also proposed that all universities and higher educational institutions incorporate IPR as part of their curriculum.

A symposium was arranged for getting the feedback from stakeholders. But the policy could not be implemented since the term of the Government expired before any decision could be taken.

The State Government has decided to go on appeal against an interim order of the High Court that imposed a partial stay on its liquor policy, the Excise and Labour Minister, Mr P.K. Gurudasan, informed the House.

Replying to the questions, Mr Gurudasan said that there was no change in the liquor policy. Any change could be brought about by an amendment of the Abkari Act alone, he said.

PENDING CASES

The Home Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has said that till December last year, 92,511 civil and 25,038 criminal cases were pending in the High Court. The number of civil cases pending in the lower courts all over the State was more than four lakh, while the pending criminal cases numbered over five lakh.

The Fisheries Minister, Mr S. Sarma, said that almost 90 per cent work on the Muthalapozhi fishing harbour has been completed. The harbour would be commissioned within three months while the Thottappally spillway will be completed by June next year. Master dredging of Moppilah Bay in Kannur will be taken up soon.

Compared to 2005-06, there has been a 23.68 per cent increase in the arrival of foreign tourists and 5.47 per cent increase in the arrival of domestic tourists, said Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who holds the tourism portfolio also. A majority of the foreign tourists belonged to the UK.

The State has earned Rs 8,500 crore from the tourism sector during the course of the current year. Tourism information centres will be opened in Mysore and Kolkata. Tourism projects worth Rs 100 crore will be taken up using the tsunami fund. At least 35 centres in the State will be developed for promoting pilgrim tourism.