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Assamese industry body holds awareness programmes to protect IPR

Updated: Jul 20, 2013 03:55:19pm
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Guwahati, Jul 20 (KNN) With an aim to create awareness amongst small and medium enterprises in Assam regarding the risks of intellectual Property (IP) rights infringement, North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA) has organized several awareness programmes here in collaboration with the Ministry of MSME.

Most of the MSMEs in India avoid taking measures to protect their ideas and business strategies.

Considering that awareness of IP rights is very low, NESSIA State President, Sailen Baruah in a press release stressed the need for urgent steps towards protection of natural and manmade items of the State.  “Geographical Indication (GI) registration under Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Act is a corrective step,” he said.

GI is a name or sign used on certain products which correspond to a specific geographical location or origin. The use of a GI may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities and is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.

NESSIA organized four awareness and sensitization programmes on Intellectual Property Rights Act for sectors such as handloom and textile, brass and bell metal, steel engineering and traditional food items.

On its part, the government has been encouraging and facilitating MSMEs to make specific use of IPR to improve their competitiveness both domestically and globally, said Director In charge, MSME, Guwahati S R Payeng, underlining the significance of patent and property rights in the recent times. 

“In Assam so far GI Registration has been obtained only on Muga Silk and Assam Tea.  Other items of the State that require urgent steps for the protection under GI registration include – Assamese Gamocha, Assam Silk Mekhala and Chadar, Eri Chadar in the Handloom and Textile sector,” said NESSIA President.

In the small scale industry sector, Pital (Bronze) and Kah (Bell metal) Industry of Hajo and Sarthebari; iron products like Dao, Kotari, other iron utensils manufactured in Koronga in Jorhat district; Assamese Jewellery Gohona manufactured in Rontholi, Nagaon district, Sonari Gaon in Jorhat and Assamese Japi are also in need of GI registration, he added.

With regard to the agriculture sector, Baruah said “Kumol Chaul, Bora Chaul, Chunga Pitha, Kola Khar, etc should also be taken up for GI registration. Even Pera of Bukakhat, Rosogulla of Orang also require the same protection.

Stressing the importance of IPR, “Achieving a place in Guinness World Records by weaving the longest Gamocha would in no way help weavers of Assam if people of the State continued to buy Gamocha woven in Chennai,” Patent Holder and IPR consultant, Dulal Choudhury said.

“It is up to the people here to start taking the initiative for protection of Gamocha under GI registration act to avoid repeat of a Sualkuchi-like situation.

“The State stands to lose from the failure of the State Government to secure GI rights over these items,” he further added.

NESSIA also called for support from the government departments, universities and NGO’s to take steps to protect natural and manmade items of the State with the help of GI registration. (KNN)
 

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