Promotion & market linkage for banaras saree

27 Apr '10

6 min read

Dr. Rashid Bang, Sr. Economist, UNCTAD India explained the house about the benefits of the GI Registration of Banaras Brocade and Sarees.

Shri Abhijit Das, Deputy Co-coordinator, UNCTAD India said that DFID (Department of International Fund) – supported UNCTAD's India project worked closely with the weaver community through its partners – Textiles Committee (Mumbai). UNCTAD India supported the weavers and artisans in seeking GI Certificate of Banaras Sarees and Brocades. This was done through awareness building campaigns, community mobilization and technical assistance for preparing the GI application.

Banaras Saree was the fifth product which received GI Certificate as a result of UNCTAD projects intervention. Similar initiatives under the project helped weavers and artisans to receive GI Certificates for Pipli Applique Work of Orissa, Lucknow Chikan Craft of Uttar Pradesh, Uppada Jamadhani Sarees of Andhra Pradesh and Cannanore Home Furnishings of Kerala.

GIs can also be commercially leveraged for enhancing incomes of weavers, while providing assurance of product quality to consumers. The GI Certificate has not only recognized uniqueness and distinct identity of Banaras Brocades and Sarees, but also of related products such as silk brocades, dress material, bed and table covers manufactured in the traditional manner by weavers in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Sant Ravi Das Nagar Bhadohi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh.

The protection accorded through GIs seeks to prevent illegitimate entities from free riding on the reputation of the protected product. Most producers and artisans of traditional and unique products in India lack the resources for seeking GI Registration.

UNCTAD India's project is implementing a comprehensive initiative aimed at assisting resource poor artisans, weavers and farmers to seek GI Registration of their unique products. With suitable marketing initiatives, the GI Certificate could commercially benefit weavers, traders and exporters of Banaras Sarees and Brocades, he said. Shri Das also released the Report “Dream of Weaving: Study and Documentation of Banaras Brocades & Saree” prepared by Textiles Committee for GI Registration.

Addressing the gatherings, Prof. Avadh Ram lauded the initiatives of Textiles Committee for undertaking such a gigantic task for the betterment of thousands of weavers of Banaras Brocade and Sarees. He also highlighted the unique characteristics of the product and stressed upon an effective mechanism to protect this unique characteristics. The GI registration is an initiative on right direction for the purpose, he opined. Prof. Ram also released the Model Manual on Post GI Initiatives prepared by Textiles Committee under the UNCTAD project.

Shri A.K. Upadhyay, Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, Government of Uttar Pradesh felicitated the nine Applicants viz. Banaras Bunkar Samiti, Human Welfare Association, Joint Director, Industries (Eastern Zone), Director of Handlooms and Textiles, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Federation, Eastern UP Exporters Association, Banarasi Vastra Udyog Sangh, Banaras Hath Kargha Vikas Samiti and Adarsh Silk Bunkar Sahkari Samiti as a recognition to their contributions to the product.

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