New handloom designs to be registered under the Intellectual Property Rights

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Handloom Research and Designing Centre of the Directorate of Handloom and Textile has developed eight new handloom designs for registration under the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Although belated, if the move materializes one can take solace.

Handloom is an area that makes every Assamese feel his/her chest puffed up with pride. The weavers of various ethnic communities in Assam have their respective dream designs that get etched on their respective handloom products like gamosas, mekhala sador and the like. However, the situation is fraught with the risk of such designs — which are essentially intellectual property of the State’s weavers — being copied by others, including those from outside the State. Such designs do depict the age-old heritage of the State’s diverse ethnicity. However, the present situation in the State deprives Assam weavers from getting remunerative returns of their products, apart from getting the credit for their creativity under intellectual property rights (IPR).

The department, according to sources, has entrusted the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) for registration of the designs of various State handloom products. Beginning with eight designs, the move taken under the IPR regime may ensure name and fame for the State weavers for their dream designs, besides ensuring them remunerative returns. The move can also prevent outside weavers from copying Assam handloom designs without paying royalty for that.

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