7 products get GI tag

A Ravindra Seshu

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh, the land of exquisite handloom products, has obtained Geographical Indication Registry for seven products out of the eight it had applied for so far.A Pochampally Ikat in Nalgonda district was first one in the State that obtained the GI registry on December 31, 2004 and it has been placed in the third position in India.

Uppada Jamdhani in East Godavari district and Gadwal sarees in Mahbubnagar district have been registered with the Chennai Registry number 122 on March 5, 2009 and number 137 on June 9, 2010 respectively. Likewise, Venkatgiri in Nellore district got GI registry with 151 number on May 11, 2011 and Siddipet Gollabama in Medak district with 188 number on March 19, 2012.

GI is an indication and a sign used on goods that have special identity and it originates from a definite geographical territory. GI registry is used to identify agricultural, natural and manufactured goods or goods of handicrafts and food. It should have a special quality, reputation and other characteristics.

Mangalagiri cotton in Guntur district and Narayanpet saree in Mahbubnagar district have obtained GI registry on April 17, 2013 with the numbers 198 and 214 respectively. Though the officials sent Dharmavaram saree for GI registration number it did not get it because of Intellectual Property Indiaasked clarification on the uniqueness of saree.

Speaking to The Hans India, director of Handlooms and Textiles K Chiranjeevulu said, "The Dharmavaram society sent a detailed report to the department and it would get GI Registry soon". He said that the State sent eight products for GI registry and seven products got it so far. NABARD has sanctioned an amount of Rs 4.5 lakh to Pochampally Ikat, Uppada Jamdhani fabrics and Gadwal saree.

The GI Registration confers protection to geographical indications in India and it prevents unauthorised use of a GIR by others.