Pure Muga Beaten in Price War

* Lack of awareness on GI tag makes evil twins glut market

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Why does a section of muga silk business establishments in the State continue to shy away from getting registered as a Geographical Indication (GI)-authorized users? Such a question arises as what is happening in the muga market in the State does not augur well for the Assamese muga as a unique brand.

The Assamese muga silk is unique on many an aspect – in its durability, natural golden-yellow tone and its rare sheen becoming more lustrous with every wash. The silkworm called Antheraea assamensis is also unique to Assam. All these genuine claims got a real shot in the arm in 2006 when the State’s muga silk was accorded the prestigious GI tag. The ground reality, however, remains that lack of awareness on GI tag is allowing a section of businessmen minting money by selling evil twins or adulterated muga silk products in the market at lower prices. Not using GI tag gives such traders enough elbow room for selling products that are not 100 per cent pure muga.

It is not that a businessman selling muga silk products without GI tag never sells pure silk. But it is a fact that no one can give the guarantee of 100 per cent purity of a muga silk product bought from a trader who does not have registered as a GI authorized user, and as such not using the GI trademark. GI, which has been patented, stands for 100 per cent purity of Assamese muga products that have no parallel elsewhere in the world, let alone the other States of India.

Talking to The Sentinel, scientist Siddhartha Debnath of the Patent Information Centre under ASTEC (Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council) said: “The GI tag stands for 100 per cent purity of the Assamese muga. There are around 280 GI authorized users in the State. Such establishments can also get registration to be GI authorized users through us. Nobody can assure 100 per cent purity of muga if the product doesn’t have GI trademark. Maybe, the prices of muga products with GI trademark are a bit higher than their counterparts without this trademark. However, one has genuine reasons for paying an extra buck for the guarantee of 100 per cent purity of products one gets.”