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From: Pradip Kumar Datta [NorthEast India Yahoo Group]

By Sanjoy Ray Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, March 22 – In what could bring cheer to the faces of thousands of small and big entrepreneurs in the North East, especially in Assam and Nagaland, the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a premier trade body, is all set to file the application seeking registration of Assamese gamosa and Naga shawl with the Geographical Registry of India. The Geographical Indication (GI) marks out a designated product of a definite geographical territory and is used to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods originating from the territory.

The registration would confer legal protection to the products both in India and the world over. Besides, it wou! ld also prevent unauthorised use, boost exports and benefit producers in a given geographical territory.

Well-placed sources told The Assam Tribune that the ICC has almost completed the research and other necessary scientific fact-finding work, which would help in acquiring GI protection for both the Assamese gamosa and the Naga shawl.

“Both Assamese gamosa and the Naga shawl are traditional garments of Assam and Nagaland respectively and the ICC has prepared enough documental evidence to add teeth to its petition in this regard,” the sources pointed out.

Assam’s Muga silk was the first product from the NE to have been conferred with the GI registration. Though Assam tea has been chosen for the GI mark, it is yet to be formally handed over the GI rights. Experts, however, believe that it might come any day.

“The protection of the traditional textile products like Assamese gamosa, apart from helping in bringing standardisation of processes, would boost its commercialisation including export of the products,” the sources said, while adding, “The manufacturers of Assamese gamosa are now facing a threat from the similar products originating from States like Andhra Pradesh, which floods the State market during the Bihu season. The GI registration would help in bailing out thousands of entrepreneurs involved in this business from this threat.

“GI is granted when a product is distinctively linked to a region or endemic to popular culture in that the process of making the product is community knowledge handed down traditionally,” reiterated the sources.

The report, which is being prepared by the ICC, is laying special stress on the products’ traditional history and how it is intricately woven with that of Assam and Nagaland.

The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 gives the right to register a protected name to three categories of persons — the actual producers and groups of such producers of goods specified in the geographical area, groups of consumers, and any competent authority.

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