The Himachal Pradesh government is trying to obtain GIs (Geographical Indication) for five products from the state – Karsog Kulth, Thangi of Pangi, Chamba Metal Crafts, Chamba Chukh, and Rajmah of Bharmour.
GI is defined as “a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin” by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Geographical Indications are mostly used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, handicrafts, industrial products, wines and spirit drinks. Some examples are:- Darjeeling tea, Kullu shawl, Mysore agarbathi, champagne (France), Swiss watches.
Internationally, GIs are covered as an element of intellectual property rights under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property which was one of the first intellectual property treaties to be signed. GIs are also covered under the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, which is a minimum standards agreement which allows its members to provide more extensive protection of intellectual property if they so wish.
These are five special products for which Himachal government is demanding GI tags-
- Karsog Kulth: Kulthi or Kulth (horse gram) is a legume grown as a kharif crop in Himachal Pradesh. Kulth grown in the Karsog area of Mandi district is believed to be particularly rich in amino acids.
- Pangi ki Thangi: It is a type of hazelnut which grows in Pangi valley located in the northwestern edge of Himachal. It is known for its unique flavour and sweetness.
- Chamba metal crafts: These include items such as metal idols and brass utensils which, historically, were made by skilled artisans in the courts of kings of Chamba. There are efforts to revive the trade, and a plate made from a brass-like alloy and having carvings of gods and goddesses is still popular.
- Chamba Chukh: It’s a chutney made from green and red chillies grown in Chamba, and prepared in traditional and unique ways. The practice has largely declined in rural households of Chamba, but survives to some extent at the small-scale industrial level.
- Bharmouri Rajmah: It’s more specifically called the Kugtalu Rajmah, since it grows in the area around Kugti Pass in the Bharmour region of Chamba district. It is rich in proteins and has a unique flavour.
For the Chamba metal crafts, historical literature can help establish their unique characteristics and reputation. For the other four agricultural products, however, distinctive genealogical characteristics need to be identified. For this, researchers from the agricultural university at Palampur have been roped in.
HP Council of Science, Technology and Environment will apply for GI status, once the characteristic features of all products are identified, to the central government’s Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. After the application, teams from the Centre will investigate the claims and the time taken to award a GI typically takes two to four years.
Currently, Himachal Pradesh has eight registered GIs. These include 4 handicrafts, namely: Kullu Shawl, Chamba Rumal, Kinnauri Shawl and Kangra Paintings, and 3 agricultural products, namely: Kangra Tea, Basmati and Himachali Kala Zeera and one manufactured product Himachali Chulli (Apricot) oil.
The first GIs to be registered in 2005-06 were Kullu Shawl and Kangra Tea. Another product that is Basmati, a kind of rice grain, has been registered jointly from seven states of North India, including Himachal Pradesh. Chulli oil and kala zeera (cumin), mainly associated with Kinnaur and known for their medicinal properties, were the last to be registered in 2018-19. In total, there are 370 registered GIs in India.
CONCLUSION
A GI tag helps the producers to differentiate their products from competing products in the market. A GI registration is given to an area, not a trader, but once a product gets the registration, traders dealing in the product can apply for selling it with the GI logo. Authorised traders are each assigned a unique GI number. For example, Kullu shawl has 135 authorised traders. A shawl made in Ludhiana cannot be sold as a Kullu shawl. If any unauthorised trader, even from Kullu, tries to sell a shawl under the name of Kullu shawl, he or she can be prosecuted under The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. GIs are also expected to boost or revive the items whose production has declined, as is being aimed in the case of Chamba Chukh and metal crafts. GI tags enable the producers to build a reputation and goodwill around their products, which often fetch a premium price. The products help in export earning, promotion of tourism, cultural heritage and national identity.
