GI status sought for Bhagalpur silk fabrics and sarees

New Delhi, Oct : A group of organisations havesought Geographical Indication (GI) status for silk fabricsand sarees produced in Bhagalpur division of Bihar.

The Bhagalpur Regional Handloom Weavers Cooperative Unionand six other organisations have filed an application beforethe Chennai-based Geographical Indication Registry, the competent authority under Government of India, for a GI tag for 'Bhagalpur Silk Fabrics and Sarees'.

The Geographical Indication is a sign used on goods thathave a specific geographical origin and possess qualities,reputation or characteristics that are essentiallyattributable to that region. Once granted, the GI status would legally prohibit othersto sell sarees and fabrics made at places other than Bhagalpurunder the same brand.

The GI tag for fabrics and sarees can become an effectivetool for economic empowerment of the weaver community.

"The grant of GI tag to Bhagalpur Silk Fabrics and Sareeswould certainly help the local weavers from losing their sharein the revenue generated through the sale of these products,"Dhananjay Kumar, who works as Cluster Development Executive ata local organisation in Bhagalpur, told PTI over phone.

Recently, a similar status was granted to famous Banarasbrocades and sarees. In the past, GI tag has been awarded to anumber of products or goods, including Darjeeling Tea, GoaFeni and Madhubani Paintings.

At present the application for GI tag for Bhagalpur silkfabrics and sarees is in pre-examination stage. A meeting ofconsultative group of the GI registry is expected next month,which would discuss the application, Kumar said

The application for GI has been filed under class 24 and25 of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration andProtection) Act, 1999. Class 24 of the Act deals with textilesand textile goods, bed and table covers while class 25 is forclothing, footwear and headgear.

Bhagalpur, a divisional town in Bihar, is situated on thebank of river Ganga. Thousands of handloom weavers of the areaare dependent of the business of silk and related products.

Bhagalpur is well known for its sericulture, manufactureof yarn and weaving them into products. The silk produced hereis of a distinct and special type. The local silk is known as'Tussah' or 'Tusser' silk.