GI mark to check sale of fake shawls during Kullu Dasehra
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, October 10
Despite having being registered as products bearing the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) mark, imitations of Kullu and Kinnauri shawls are flooding the market, depriving the weavers of the economic benefits that should accrue to them.
It is to check the sale of these imitations and fake shawls, mostly made in Ludhiana factories during the Kullu Dashera, that the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment has decided to make the weavers aware of the legal status of their product and how they can check the sale of imitations. Making a beginning in this regard, the Himachal Pradesh Patent Information Centre has decided to hold a workshop for the Kullu Weavers Association shortly.
“More than 10 weavers will take part in the workshop and our endeavour is to make them aware of the real value and significance of their products and action that can be taken against those selling imitations in the name of Kullu shawls,” said an official. He admitted that even though the Patent Information Centre of the Council had to date got five products registered under the GI, a majority of the customers, not shopkeepers, were aware about the real significance of the GI logo.
The HP Patent Information Centre has so far got the GI logo for the Kullu shawl (1999), Kangra Tea (2005), Kinnuari shawl (2008), Chamba rumal (2007) and Kangra paintings (2012). Work on getting kala zeera of Kinnaur and chulli oil patented is under way and shortly these two products are also likely to get the GI logo. “In order to ensure that the weavers and producers of these products bearing the GI logo get their genuine price and imitations do not flood the market, we will hold such awareness camps,” said Tarun Kapoor, secretary, Forest and Environment.
Sensing the fleecing by traders who sell Ludhiana factory made as original Kullu and Kinnauri shawls during the International Kullu Dashera, the Industries Department had last year decided to take action. However, not much could be done as it is not just the customer who is not aware of the GI logo, but even officials are completely oblivious to it.
Shopkeepers pass off factory made Ludhiana shawls as Kullu and Kinnauri shawls. As a result, people hesitate to spend more on the genuine loom-made shawl as they get the imitations at one-tenth the price. “There are a few people who have knowledge about a genuine shawl and are willing to pay the amount for a genuine item so they purchase cheaper items, hitting us,” said a weaver Rajesh Kumar.
