Chamba ‘chappal’ gets Geographical Indications tag

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 9

Intricately embroidered leather ‘chappal’ of Chamba have been registered under the Geographical Indications (GI), which will help prevent its cheap imitation elsewhere in the country.

9 products have label

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• With grant of GI tag to Chamba chappal, the total number of products from Himachal which have got the tag has risen to nine.
• This includes Lahaul’s knitted socks and gloves, Kullu shawl, Kangra tea, Chamba rumal, Kinnaur’s shawl, Kangra painting, chulli oil and ‘kala zeera’.
• The registration of Chamba chappal under GI Act will prevent its unauthorised production as well as misuse of its name.

Adorned with golden and coloured embroidery, the Chamba ‘chappals’ are hand made by craftsmen in Chamba town.

The formalities for getting the GI tag were undertaken jointly by the Himachal Pradesh Patent Information Centre at the HP Council for Science, Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE) and the Ambedkar Mission Society, Chamba, on behalf of the manufacturers/ producers.

The grant of the GI tag would economically benefit the craftsmen and go a long way in helping them market their product, especially abroad, as the GI tag would ensure authenticity and quality of the product.

The GI tag has been given under the Geographical Indications (GIs) of Goods Act, 1999, from the Registrar, Geographical Indications. With this, the total number of products from Himachal which have got the GI tag has risen to nine. This includes Lahaul’s knitted socks and gloves, Kullu shawl, Kangra tea, Chamba rumal, Kinnaur’s shawl, Kangra painting, ‘chulli oil’ and ‘kala zeera’.

“The registration of Chamba ‘chappal’, under GI Act will prevent its unauthorised production as well as misuse of its name. No manufacturer can call a ‘chappal’ produced outside Chamba as ‘Chamba chappal’, as this will be under the legal provisions of the Act,” Sudesh Kumar Mokta, Member Secretary, HIMCOSTE, said.

Mokta further said under the GI Act, unauthorised use and infringement of the registered GI by producers other than those from the region of origin can result in maximum of three-year imprisonment and a fine of maximum of Rs 2 lakh.

Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to formulate a policy for the registration of products under GI Act in 2004. This has greatly helped in protecting the interest of the craftsmen. The HIMCOSTE has been holding workshops to keep these crafts alive and help the artisans by giving them

a platform to showcase their products by way of exhibitions.