Itanagar: The handicrafts of Arunachal Pradesh are set to be patented to protect it from cheap duplicate copies.
A team of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Kolkata, with assistance from the Development Commissioner, Handloom and Handicrafts, Union Textiles ministry, is in the state to identify and patent indigenous Arunachalee handicrafts under the Intellectual Property Rights through Geographical Indication (GI).
”The products of the tribes of Arunachal, who are located in different regions, have certain typical characteristics or craftsmanship which make them unique. These can be protected under the GI Act”, Mr Dibyendu Datta, one of the project coordinators, told UNI.
”We have chosen West and East Kameng districts for the first phase of this project. The products include Monpa bags, carpets and woodcarvings”, he added.
The awareness program will start from February 6 in Bomdila. The manfacturing process of the identified handicrafts will be documented and the products will be forwarded for protection, said Amandeep Singh Grover, another member of the team.
Different handicraft products like Pocchampalli saris, Kolahapuri chappals and Baluchari saris are in the process of being protected under the GI Act.
If a state’s handicrafts are protected under the GI Act, the people of the state would have exclusive rights for manufacturing such products.
It would prevent unauthorized use or copying of the products and would promote economic prosperity of the producers, besides giving greater recognition to the state artisans.
