Guwahati, Oct. 5: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has requested the Planning Commission to activate a formal patent regime for the region to protect ethnic and traditional designs of handicrafts.
This was stated in the Report of Working Group on North Eastern Council and Related Issues for 11th Five Year Plan to the Planning Commission.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is working to develop a logo for handicrafts of each state of the region under the project “Documentation and Registration of Handicrafts of Northeastern States under Intellectual Property Rights”.
NIFT is identifying two to three unique handicrafts from each state to be patented.
Karbi textiles and sital pati crafts made by artisans from Karbi Anglong and Goalpara are being considered for being patented under Intellectual Property Rights for geographical indication. This means a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or reputation that are unique to that place of origin.
The Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (Astec) has also filed an application before the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council to develop geographical indications for muga.
The council has called for identifying the neglected handloom and handicraft sector as a thrust area in the Eleventh Plan. The council said in this sector, courses for fashion design and fabric value addition could be set up in some of the state capitals. It added that existing universities and colleges could be financially supported to include these subjects in curriculum.
On tourism, it said a regional plan could also be evolved where existing tourism activities and tourist arrivals could be enhanced by assisting genuine and creditable tourism operators and hotel owners. NEC can also create selective infrastructure and help in promotion and capacity building.
A public-private partnership-funding model could be examined to cover critical gaps in the sector. “Circuit development possesses ample scope for regional cooperation and in the Eleventh Plan, tourist products evolved and supported through NEC funding should be compatible with the objectives for producing world-class circuits,” it said.
It added that publicity costs for promotion of specific destinations and circuits could be borne by NEC, which can support participation in domestic and international fairs. The council can contemplate assisting the development of heritage and cultural circuits.
The council said it is necessary to involve the landowners as stakeholders and partners in projects in view of the traditional land tenure system prevailing in most of the hill states.
“Financing of value addition projects and technological assistance for tea growers would be a catalyst for industrialising rural areas,” the council said in its report. Existing sericulture and seed farms languishing owing to resource constraints by the state governments could be repaired from NEC funds.
