Kashmir Pashmina finally awarded goods patent

25 Sep '08

5 min read

Earlier, Crafts Development Institute, representing Tahafuz, had filed an application for Kashmir Pashmina in the GI registry in the year 2005. The KHPPT, and WTI, which had begun work on GI in 2000 had objected to this application on the grounds that it did not represent the correct traditional Kashmir hand made pashmina product.

KHPPT objected to the fact that the CDI application was diluting the purity of the product by paving the way for introduction of machines in two basic categories of the traditional Pashmina production process making many jobless. While the CDI application only looked at Class 24, KHPPT wanted it registered in Class 23 and 25 as well.

"The very basis of traditional Pashmina in Kashmir is hand cleaning and hand spinning, two categories that are run entirely by women. CDI's application would have legitimized machines in these two stages making thousands of skilled women workers, many of them conflict widows, redundant," Mr Mookerjee said.

The KHPPT also objected to the fact that the GI footprint as portrayed by the CDI application expanded the production area of Kashmir Pashmina from the Kashmir valley to the entire state, which was unfair to the artisans of the Kashmir Valley, where the production had traditionally taken place.

"Moreover, we strongly felt that Tahafuz, which is a multi-disciplinary body, would not have the right perspective to handle such an important issue as administering Kashmir Pashmina GI and that a special forum should be created within it," Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, Trustee KHPPT said.

In the agreement signed among 4 parties witnessed by the minister, Mr. Ramesh, the following was agreed to:

a. All KHPPT members will become members of Tahafuz to look after intellectual property rights and issues related to Kashmir Pashmina.

b. A special GI sub-committee named Kashmir Hand Made Pashmina Promotion Division(KHPPD) comprising nominated members of KHPPT and Tahafuz would exclusively handle the execution of Kashmir Pashmina GI.

c. Kashmir pashmina GI would be registered in the clauses 23, 24, and 25 which include yarns, threads, textile and clothing.

The parties also mutually agreed to create two categories of Kashmir Pashmina of which category 'A' would be entirely hand made and would be superior in value to category B, which may have some use of machines. This would have to be specified on the product.

"I am glad that the GI has been issued and the differences could be settled amicably. The next step will be to ensure its proper implementation and to ensure a good certification mechanism. We also have to make sure that the benefits of this development reach the artisans. And am I very sure both parties will work together and closely to make this happen," Shariq Farooqui, Director CDI said.

Wildlife Trust of India

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