After Chamba Rumal, Chamba Chappal & Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves from Himachal get GI Tag
Three more indigenous artisan products of state namely Chamba Chappal, Lahauli Knitted Socks and Gloves were given GI tags, by the National GI authority recently, a senior officer of state Government told us.
Member secretary of Himachal Pradesh Council for Science , Technology & Environment ( HIMCOSTE ) Mr Sudesh Kumar Mokhta told us that Himachal Pradesh Patent Information Center ( HPPIC ) and HIMCOSTE has got the GI Patent of Chamba Chappal and Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves.He said that the state has moved for registration under the Geographical Indications ( Gls ) of Goods Act , 1999 before the GI registrar three years ago three products of the state have been placed under GI tag .
” It is matter of pride for the State of Himachal Pradesh that Chamba Chappal and Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves , the valuable traditional crafts of Himachal Pradesh , have been registered by the Registrar of Geographical Indications by the Government of India . ” He said. He said that applications for registration of Chamba Chappal under GI Act , 1999 were filed jointly by HPPIC and HIMCOSTE and Ambedkar Mission Society , Chamba on behalf of manufacturersor producers of Chamba Chappal. and Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves was filed in collaboration with ‘ Save Lahaul Spiti Society ‘ with the office of the Registrar of GI at Chennai .
Chamba Chappal and Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves after Kullu Shawl , Kangra Tea , Chamba Rumal , Kinnauri Shawl , Kangra Painting , Himachali Chulli Oil and Himachali Kalazeera are respectively the eighth and ninth traditional products of Himachal Pradesh which will get protection under GI Act , 1999, he added.
” Registration of Chamba Chappal and Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves under GI Act would prevent unauthorized production as well as misuse of the name of Chamba Chappal and Lahauli. Knitted Socks & Gloves originating from a place different than the place of their origin that is No unauthorized manufacturers could call their chappal produced outside Chamba as Chamba Chappal or Chamba like chappal etc. ” he said
Ambedkar Mission Society and Himachal Pradesh Patent Information Center will further deal with issues related to Gl . Under the GI Act, unauthorized use and infringement of the registered GI by producers other than those from the region of origin of these products could result in maximum of three years imprisonment and a fine of maximum of Rs. 2,00,000 under the GI Act.
It would help to boost up the market potential for Chamba Chappal and Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves will further help in economy of the regions. HIMCOSTE would organize a workshop soon at Chamba and Keylong for the stakeholders of Chamba Chappal and Lahauli Knitted Socks & Gloves for formulating an Action Plan for future strategy.
Himachal Pradesh is the first State in the country to formulate a policy for the registration of Geographical Indications of its ingenious products to safeguard the interest of artisans and local entrepreneurs.
Under the policy guidelines HPPIC and HIMCOSTE , has been declared as the nodal agency for identifying Gls of HP and getting these registered under the GI Act so as to protect the interests of manufacturers, producers and artisans in the state of Himachal .
After getting registration under the GI act it would boost up the state economy in the modern era of globalization and protect and conserve rich cultural heritage of the state, he added.
