Himachal to move against sale of fake Kinnauri, Kullu shawls
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, January 2
With imitation Kinnauri and Kullu shawls flooding the market, the government has decided to take action against those selling Ludhiana-made products as genuine handloom shawls of Himachal.
Almost 80 per cent of the shawls being sold as Kullu and Kinnauri shawls in the market are actually made in Ludhiana factories. This has made the government sit up and take note. “We have decided to take action and penalize those who are selling factory-made shawls as Kullu and Kinnauri shawls,” said Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
He said since Kullu and Kinnauri shawls have GI registration, unauthorized use of the name for selling fake ones can invite strict legal action, including imprisonment.
“The very purpose of getting the GI registration for these shawls is defeated when cheap imitations are being sold. In the process, the genuine weavers are not getting due for their craftsmanship,” rued Agnihotri.
According to government estimates, about 15,000 weavers are making Kullu and Kinnauri shawls in the state. The turnover from the handloom shawl weaving sector is estimated to be about Rs 250 crore annually. Himbunkar is the state level body of weavers a majority of whom are concentrated in the districts of Kullu, Kinnaur, Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Chamba.
In fact, Kullu shawl was the first product from Himachal which got registered under the Geographical Indications Act, 1999. It was much later that Kangra Tea, Chamba Rumal, Kinnauri shawls and recently the Kangra paintings got registered under the GI Act.
There being little awareness about the GI registration, people do not know how to differentiate between a genuine shawl and an imitation, officials point out.
Industry Department officials say they would launch a crackdown on those selling and producing these fake shawls in violations of the norms. They said there was a plan to educate people by launching an awareness drive.
“We plan to educate people, especially tourists, about the GI logo so that they are not fleeced by shopkeepers in the name of a Kullu or Kinnauri shawl,” he said.
In fact, barring a few shops and the government emporia, most places are selling imitations. This is depriving the actual wavers of the economic prosperity that they would have otherwise achieved.
There are thousands of weavers who are making these shawls at the looms installed in their houses in districts like Kullu, Kinnaur and Shimla. Some of the private entrepreneurs, including some cooperative societies, are exporting shawls, mufflers, stoles, caps, gloves, socks and other traditional woolen material abroad.
Though the loom made shawl is more expensive than the factory made, it is the authentic product which people like to purchase.
Awareness drive soon
- Kullu and Kinnauri shawls have GI registration. People do not know how to differentiate between a genuine shawl and an imitation due to lack of awareness. The Industry Department is planning an awareness drive.
- Almost 80 per cent of the shawls being sold as Kullu and Kinnauri shawls in the market are actually made in Ludhiana factories.
