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The Textiles Committee, in association with the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), organised a workshop on ‘Post- GI (Geographical Indications) initiatives for brand promotion through market linkage and containment of infringement for selected craft indications of Kerala’.
The workshop addressed Post GI initiatives for three products of Kerala such as screw pine crafts; Palakkad maddalam and brass broidered coconut shell crafts of Kerala.
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Inaugurating the workshop, S.S. Das, Director, Ministry of Textiles, said that GI registration provided exclusivity to community of artisans or producers concerned with the products or produces. He recalled how a group in the US tried to win a patent for basmati rice but India fought back and won its place in the basmati market.
Winning GI registration provided an opportunity for enhancing income, creating more employment and better conditions for artisans. The European Union countries were very conscious about GI registration; he said and cited the case of Scotch whisky, which was protected under the GI registration system.
Geographical indications are signs or indications on goods associated with a specific geographical region and also possess unique qualities or reputation arises out of that place. The GI registration is aimed at protecting the unique and reputed products from duplication.
The workshop was organised under the project ‘Facilitating inclusion of stakeholders in the process of GI Registration for selected 21 craft indications of India’ jointly implemented by Textiles Committee and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
The Textiles Committee is working for the development of textiles and clothing sector of the country. As of today, the Committee has facilitated GI registration of 25 textile products out of 65 applications filed so far.
It also includes four traditional handloom products of Kerala namely Balaramapuram sarees and fine cotton fabrics, Kasaragod sarees, Kuthampully sarees and Chendamangalam dhoties and set mundu.
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