[Commons-Law] NIFT to register UP crafts under GI Act

[Prashant Iyengar]

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=323078

NIFT to register UP crafts under GI Act
Virendra Singh Rawat / New Delhi/ Lucknow May 16, 2008, 3:15 IST

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Rae Bareli, is to
register world-famous tradition crafts of Uttar Pradesh under the
Geographical Indication (GI) Act.

Besides, the Institute will design an insignia for each of these
crafts and turn them into brands for better commercial value and
marketability.

NIFT Registrar R K Sharma told Business Standard that the survey and
documentation process had already been completed and reports prepared.

"We have completed the documentation for all the major crafts of UP,
such as chikan work of Lucknow, Banarasi silk work of Varanasi,
brassware of Moradabad and stone carving of Agra," he said.

The survey was done by the first-year students of the institute as a
part of their project. They visited the geographical clusters for
these crafts and met the artisans and other stake holders to document
the history of these arts and present status.

The next step will be to select two of these famous crafts after
thorough discussion and brainstorming, which needs to be protected and
patented.

"Later, we would submit a report to both the state and the central
governments for final registration
this is a time-consuming process,"
Sharma added.

The patent would prevent the mass copying of these crafts and fetch
better prices to the artisans and the units involved in such trade.

GI is an insignia marked on such products having a unique geographical
origin and evolution over centuries.

"We have an onerous task of promoting the skills related to textile
and handicraft in UP. NIFT is the implementing agency for patent under
the GI Act," NIFT Associate Professor & Centre Coordinator Ashis
Debnath said.

India passed the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and
protection) Act 1999 to protect the interest of artisans and weavers
engaged in such trade. Since, GI provides insignia, it serves as a
quality mark standing for authenticity and in turn helps in better
marketing and exports of these crafts.

The Rae Bareli's NIFT unit was inaugurated by the Congress president
and local MP Sonia Gandhi on February 13, 2007 and it started its
first academic session from July last year.

In its second year, the Institute will intake 70 students in its
Fashion Designing and Accessory Designing courses, up from 67 last
year.