Did you know that the popular Darjeeling tea, Tirupathi laddu, Kancheepuram Silk saree, Pochampalli Ikat and basmati rice are all protected under the Geographical Indications (GI), but the Khadi cloth is yet to get protected in India?
The Khadi cloth, which was so powerfully made popular by Mahatma Gandhi as a Swadeshi symbol to protest the British's penchant to impose their goods and products in India during the freedom struggle, languishes for want of protection under the Intellectual Properties Rights (IPR) law.
Giving this interesting information at a recent seminar on ‘Emerging Trends in Business and Industry' here, Mr V. Natarajan, Dy. Registrar, Trade Mark, Registry and Geographical Indications, Chennai, emphasised the need to recognise the value of Indian products and origin needs to be protected. Interestingly, even the Khadi mark, proposed as a quality benchmark for all types of fabrics sold at more than 7,000 outlets of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), still awaits the approval of the Law Ministry.
He was of the opinion that many professionals of IPR are not invoking the valid and relevant laws and thereby adding to delay and confusion on decisions.
Protection and Enforcement of Trade Marks Law needs to be applied properly in said at the seminar organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI). Several experts stressed the need for protection of natural products under geographical indications. To a common man, a G.I. would mean the place of origin of the product and the quality or excellence.
Typical examples are Malabar Pepper, Kullu Shawls or Kangra tea, Chanderi sari etc. If there is no protection, it leaves scope for distortion and exploitation by commercial operators as amply demonstrated by the international controversy raised over the basmati rice and the wound healing properties of turmeric.