Report on the
One Day GI Camp
in
North Lakhimpur (Assam)
on
Effective use of Geographical Indications - MUGA Silk of ASSAM by Stakeholders
March 17th, 2015
Conducted by
Tezpur University Intellectual Property Rights (TUIPR) Cell
&
Intellectual Property Rights Cell, Dibrugarh University
in Collaboration with
North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous College)
Lakhimpur, Assam
and
Technical Support of
Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai
TUIPR/Reports/38/2012/16
April 15, 2015
Muga Silk of Assam got a Geographical Indication (GI) registration in 2007 and in 2012, a Logo for GI- Muga Silk of Assam was also registered (Registered GI applications no 55 & 384). Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) is the Registered Proprietor of the GI. Surprisingly from 2007 to 2014 there were only two “authorised users” of this GI. From 2014 to date, 19 applications to become authorised users of the GI - Muga Silk of Assam have been made to the GI Registry in Chennai, of which 14 applications have been published in the GI Journals (Journal Nos 59 & 62) and 5 applications are yet to be published.
The Tezpur University Intellectual Property Rights (TUIPR) Cell initiated a project to identify the key reasons for such low usage of the GI - Muga Silk of Assam. Extensive field work was undertaken in
some of the areas in which “Sericulture to Production of MUGA Products” is active to understand the
dynamics of the MUGA Silk value chain. The key reasons identified by Shri Arshad Hussain, JRF in the TUIPR Cell were low awareness of the significance of GI, non-availability of reliable quality monitoring
systems to differentiate “genuine MUGA Silk” from “adulterated MUGA” products, insignificant
oganisational support across the entire value chain including nonexistence of enforcement mechanisms in the State of Assam against adulteration and mixed products in the market place. A Regional
Workshop titled “Protection of Traditional Product Names in the North East Region using Geographical indications ........ Its importance in enhancing business and promoting Regional
Art and Craft” was conducted in Guwahati on 9th January 2015 in which around 100 stakeholders across the MUGA value chain participated. In addition to presentations on the basics of GI, the participants were engaged in an intense discussion to focus on the critical issues related to MUGA Silk
industry in the State of Assam. One of the main reasons for the low number of “authorised users” in
Assam was attributed to the near ignorance of the value of GI at the grassroots level and the difficulties in the preparation of error free applications to be sent to the GI Registry in Chennai.
Immediately following the workshop of January 9, 2015, Shri Arshad Hussain of the TUIPR Cell was deputed to conduct an extended field work in places like Dhakuakhana ,Ghilamara, Nakari, Panigaon, Khelmati, Napam and Rangpuria, to mobilise the stakeholders at the grassroots level for the GI Camp that was held on March
17, 2015 in North Lakhimpur of Lakhimpur District (Assam) ------- a rich hub of MUGA Silk production. Tezpur University IPR Cell (with funding support of the
Mr Arshad Hussain during his pre-workshop visit to the villages of Lakhimpur District
MHRD IPR Chair), the recently formed IPR Cell of Dibrugarh University and the faculty, including student volunteers of North Lakhimpur College, Assam collaborated in this unique GI Camp. Though no representatives from the GI Registry, Chennai could attend this GI Camp, the Asst. Registrar provided technical support by way of information booklets and procedural guidance on steps to prepare error-free
applications for “authorised users” of the GI - Muga Silk of Assam.
This GI Camp was truly “a grassroots initiative” as the proceedings were conducted mainly in Assamese language and partly in Hindi to ensure complete communication among all the participants and the organisers. Annexure I presents the GI Camp programme on March 17, 2015. Annexure II presents the unique brochure on GI and its significance with the
Participants introducing themselves
objectives of this workshop, prepared exclusively in Assamese. The day started with registration of the participants who had converged from within a radius of about 70 kms. One hundred seventeen (117) stakeholders from 33 villages of Lakhimpur District registered (Annexures III and IV) for this GI Camp. Students and faculty members of North Lakhimpur College and prominent local personalities participated in this camp. Dr Tara Nath Duwara, Department of
Anthropology, Dibrugarh University represented Dibrugarh University in this GI Camp.
The inaugural session was presided by Dr Biman Ch
Chetia, Principal, North Lakhimpur College. He appreciated the initiatives taken up by two premier
Dr Biman Ch Chetia speaking about the importance of the Camp
institutions of Assam like Tezpur and Dibrugarh University for the cause of MUGA Silk stakeholders.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr Pritam Deb, Coordinator, TUIPR Cell, Tezpur University gave a brief overview (in Assamese) of the activities and initiatives of the TUIPR Cell. He also highlighted the significance of this GI Camp and urged the participants to take full
Dr P Deb welcoming the gathering
advantage of these efforts and become authorised users of the GI - Muga Silk of Assam so that they can derive appropriate economic benefits and progress in their businesses profitably in this region.
Introducing the “theme of the camp”, Prof. Prabuddha
Ganguli, MHRD IPR Chair Professor, Tezpur University explained to the stakeholders (in Hindi) the rights of
“authorized users of any GI” and how they can actually
use the registered GI – MUGA Silk of Assam to derive higher gains in their respective businesses. He also gave
Prof P Ganguli elaborating the theme of the camp
examples of how GI has been effectively used in Europe by producers of agricultural goods. He further
showed with examples of how “collective trademark” and “certification trademark” can be used in
conjunction with the “GI Logo” by the “authorised users” to enhance value of their commercial ventures.
He ended his introductory remarks with the importance of creating “local bodies”, “associations”, “clusters” and “cooperatives” and how using the various tools of IPR such as patents, trademarks,
design registrations, and GI could create a new mode of working to promote socio-economic development of the communities in these regions.
The “guest of honour”, Dr Hamendra Kr Gogoi, former Principal and President, Governing Body, North Lahimpur College spoke in Assamese and expressed his concern on the uncontrolled adulteration in MUGA Silk and how this is leading to a constant decline in returns to genuine MUGA Silk producers in the region. He urged the participants to
immediately register as “authorised users of GI - Muga Silk of Assam”. He also highlighted the significant fall in the quality
and quantity of cocoons due to the uncontrolled use of pesticides and chemicals in the vicinities of the cultivation of the pupas. He cautioned against the dangers of environmental pollution as it is adversely affecting the unique
Dr Hamendra Kr Gogoi delivering his lecture
colour and quality of MUGA Silk.
The technical session was coordinated in
Assamese by Shri Bipul Saikia, Assistant Professor, North Lakhimpur College. He has long been involved in research related to sericulture and has been interacting with various stakeholders in the Muga value chain in this region. He gave an eloquent
presentation on the various factors that affect the quality of the pupa and their impact on the quality
Mr Bipul Saikia coordinating during technical session
of thread and the woven products. He urged the participants to actively participate in the camp and contribute to the establishment of a vibrant MUGA Silk industry in this region.
The first presentation in technical session was conducted in Assamese by Dr (Smt) Suchibrata Goswami of TUIPR Cell.
She gave an “Overview of Intellectual Property Rights”
using slides in Assamese. She explained how various aspects of IPR such as patents, trademarks, design registrations and GI can be intelligently used to protect creations of the human mind. She then used diverse aspects of MUGA Silk products, MUGA Silk production and
Dr Suchibrata Goswami speaking on IPR tools
processes to explain how different tools of IPR can be used to protect innovations in the MUGA Silk value chain. This introductory session activated the participants and induced them to think of their own activities and identify the type of innovations they have been involved in and how they can gain from IPR in their own MUGA silk related activities.
Smt. Juri Borbora Saikia of TUIPR Cell spoke in
Assamese on “Geographical Indications with special
reference to Muga Silk of Assam”. She elaborated on
the concept of GI and illustrated how the environments in
Ms Juri Borbora Saikia explaining GI
specific geographical regions affect the properties and characteristics of various products. She also elaborated on the provisions of the GI Act in India, on how the “names” of products produced in certain
regions that have gained reputation over time are protected by GI and how these “protected names” add
value in businesses. She showed the participants how the packet of “Bikanneri Bhujia” is marked with a GI logo and how this has now begun to yield higher value in the market place. She then introduced the “logo of GI - Muga Silk of Assam ” to the participants and indicated to them that they can use this logo only if they become “authorised users” of the Muga GI by making their applications to the GI Registry in Chennai. The uniqueness of the GI-Muga Silk of Assam was explained to the stakeholders. The significance of the MUGA as defined in the GI Application was highlighted. She explained to the
participants that only the “authorised users” who satisfied the specifications laid down in the GI
Application, would be entitled to use the “logo of GI -
Muga Silk of Assam ” on their products.
The pre-lunch session was followed by a vibrant and active interaction with the participants. This session which was conducted in Hindi and Assamese was coordinated by Prof P Ganguli. Several questions on GI were raised by the participants. These were responded to by Professor Ganguli, Smt Juri Borbora Saikia, Dr (Smt) Suchibrata Goswami.
The participants emphasised on the urgency of laying down clear specifications for the use of the “logo of GI -
Participants enquiring on Muga purity testing facility
Muga Silk
of Assam ”, need for simple tests that can be performed to differentiate adulterated from pure Muga and immediate establishment of an enforcement body in the State for purity of Muga products. Without these features in place, the participants were not confident of the meaningful use of the GI Logo in their businesses.
Formation of a fully functional Inspection Body was an important recommendation of the day that came collectively from the stakeholders. Many prominent local persons demanded the formation of such a body with immediate effect to save authentic muga from further decline.
A participant expressing concern on absence of formal inspection body to monitor the use GI- MUGA Silk of Assam
The post lunch session was dedicated to
facilitating the filling of the application forms. The stakeholders, who were earlier briefed in their villages by Shri Arshad Hussain, were “in-principle prepared” to fill the application forms to become
“authorised users” of the GI - Muga Silk of Assam.
Student volunteers from North Lakhimpur College and members of the TUIPR Cell actively participated in facilitating the forms filling process which was coordinated by Shri Arshad Hussain. Affidavits were prepared on the spot by the TUIPR Cell members and they were completed with the help of a local attorney who was hired for this
Arshad Hussain and other TUIPR Cell members helping in form filling process
specific purpose. Eighty Nine (89) application forms were completed by the end of the day (Annexure V) Fifty four (54) stakeholders submitted their drafts for registration fee (Rs 600/- per head ) on the day of the camp. The remaining 35 applicants paid the application fees to the TUIPR Cell. The TUIPR Cell got the drafts prepared on behalf of the applicants.
The last session titled “The Way Forward”, was a discussion on how the applicants would organise themselves to propagate the concept of GI - Muga Silk of Assam in their working environments and ecosystem. Shri Arshad Hussain and Professor Ganguli explained to the applicants that the next step from
the TUIPR Cell would be to obtain a “consent letter”
from ASTEC in support of their applications and then have the application forms sent to the GI Registry in Chennai. The applicants were informed that Assam Science Technology and Environment Council
(ASTEC), Guwahati, Assam is the “Registered
Proprietor” of the GI-Muga Silk of Assam and hence
consent from the “Registered Proprietor” is essential as per the GI Act of India.
Prof P Ganguli interacting with participants during the application form filling process at the GI Camp
The participants urged the TUIPR Cell to organise the next meeting on GI - Muga Silk of Assam in another location in the region so that the concept of GI can be spread and also invite senior government officials of the State of Assam to participate so that the formation of the much needed inspection body and enforcement mechanisms can be put in place.
The programme ended with a “Vote of Thanks” by Shri Bipul Saikia. A glimpse of some select moments of the GI Camp is given in Annexure VI. Brief profile of the Resource Persons is in Annexure VII.
The PDF versions of the brochures (English and Assamese) are enclosed at the end of the Report
***************************
Organisers and Participants of the GI Camp
Arshad Hussain in conversation with muga dealers on the significance of the GI Camp
An Assamese woman weaving Muga Silk using a traditional loom
ANNEXURE I
এদিনীয়া দিদꢚৰ
- মগু
- াজিঅ'ꢀাজিকেলইজিকেꢁযন: উৎপাদেআৰ
কাꢀসূচী :
- ু
- ꢂযৱহাৰেৰসামজꢀেউꢃয়নতইয়াৰসাꢄেꢂযৱহাৰ
তাদৰখ: ১৭/০৩/২০১৫
Programme:
- সময়
- কাꢀসূচী
পꢁীকৰণ
পুꢚা ৯ ꢚজাৰ পৰা ১0.0০ ꢚজালৈ
- ১০-১0.0৫ ꢚজালৈ
- আদৰꢇণ ভাষণ: দপ. ꢋিꢚ, ꢋকা-অদডꢓনটৰ, ꢆতিপুৰ জꢂꢅজꢂদযালয় ꢆꢂৌজꢇে সꢈজি অজিোৰ ꢉকোꢊ
উꢂেꢃꢄ ꢅꢄাꢆꢄা: অꢁꢂাপক দপ.গাꢃꢄৈী, এম.এইꢅ.আৰ.দড আই.দপ.আৰ আসন,ꢆতিপুৰ জꢂꢅজꢂদযালয়
১0.0৫-১0.১৫ ꢚজালৈ
১0.১৫-১0.২৫ ꢚজালৈ ১0.২৫-১0.৩৫ ꢚজালৈ ১0.৩৫-১0.৪0 ꢚজালৈ
ꢇꢅꢇꢃꢈ অꢇিꢇিৰ ভাষন : ড° ꢋেꢓমꢆ ꢇমাৰ গলগ, ꢈাꢉন অꢁꢂꢊ , ꢋꢈদচꢓডꢌ, কꢓৈজ পদৰচাৈনা
সদমদত উꢂবাধনী ভাষণ: ꢍꢀুত দꢚমান চꢆ ꢋচদতয়া, অꢁꢂꢊ, উꢎৰ ৈদখমপুৰ কꢓৈজ
ꢃলাগৰ ꢃৰাই : ꢏদচꢐতা ꢋগাꢑামী, ꢆতিপৰু জꢂꢅজꢂদযালয়
পুꢚা ১০.৪0 ꢚজাৰ পৰা ১১
চাহ
ꢚজালৈ পুꢚা ১১.00 ꢚজাৰ পৰা
ꢆꢂৌজꢇে সꢈজি অজিোৰ সꢒকীয় ꢁাৰণা: ꢏদচꢐতা ꢋগাꢑামী, ꢆতিপুৰ জꢂꢅজꢂদযালয় ꢆꢂৌজꢇে সꢈজি
১১.৩0 ꢚজালৈ
অজিোৰ ꢉকোꢊ
- পুꢚা ১১.৩0 ꢚজাৰ পৰা
- দজ.আই. সꢒকীয় ꢁাৰণা: ꢍমতী জদ
- ু
ৰ ꢚৰꢚৰা িইকীয়া, ꢆতিপুৰ জꢂꢅজꢂদযালয় ꢆꢂৌজꢇে সꢈজি
১২.00 ꢚজালৈ
অজিোৰ ꢉকোꢊ
- পুꢚা ১২.00 ꢚজাৰ পৰা
- অসমত অসমৰ মগ
- ু
- া দজ.আই. দিদত সꢒকীয় এক পꢀাꢓৈাচনা: পদৰꢓꢀাজনাৰ এক দꢚꢓেষণ:
১২.৩0 ꢚজালৈ
ꢍ আꢔাি ꢕꢓচইন, ꢋজ.আৰ.এফ., ꢆতিপুৰ জꢂꢅজꢂদযালয় ꢆꢂৌজꢇে সꢈজি অজিোৰ ꢉকোꢊ
পুꢚা ১২.৩0 ꢚজাৰ পৰা দꢚয়দৈ আꢂলাচনা ১.00 ꢚজালৈ
দꢚয়দৈ ১.00 ꢚজাৰ পৰা
দপু ৰীয়াৰ আহাৰ
২.00 ꢚজালৈ
- দꢚয়দৈ ২.00 ꢚজাৰ পৰা
- অসমৰ মগ
- ু
- া দজ.আই.ৰ ꢈাদꢁকত ꢚꢂৱোৰকদেচাꢓপ আꢓꢚিন পꢖ পূৰণ
ৃ
৫.00 ꢚজালৈ
- দꢚয়দৈ ৫.00 ꢚজাৰ পৰা
- ভদৱষꢂৎ পদৰকꢗনা সꢒকীয় দসꢘাꢙ আৰু মꢙꢚꢂ
৫.১৫ ꢚজালৈ
ANNEXURE II
BROCHURES (pdf copies ( English & Assamses) attached at the end):
Page: I Page: II
ANNEXURE III
LIST OF PLACES FROM WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAME FOR THE GI CAMP
- SL. NO
- NAME OF THE PLACE
- 1
- DHAKUAKHONA
234
GHILAMARA GOGAMUKH NAKARI
567
NARAYANPUR PADELMARI DHALPUR
- 8
- AZAD
- 9
- PANINDRA ROAD
NAHAR BARI BILATIA PANIGAON NAPAM, RANGPURIA CHUTIAKARI SUKU BORI MURI BHAS K.B.ROAD
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
JAPISAJIA JANAKPUR BHORTI SONOWAL GAON SILAPATHAR BOGINODI KOMOLABORIA KHELMATI SONARI CHAPORI DIGHALI CHINAI GAON MODARGURI LALUK DHULPETA LAKHTOKIA MAJULI
*****************************************
ANNEXTURE IV
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
- SL
- SL
- NO.
- NAME
- PLACE
- NO NAME
- PLACE
123456789
HEMA BORUAH KAMAL BORUAH HEMANTA BORUAH RANJIT DUTTA RIDIP DUTTA
- SERIFED
- 32 NITYANANDA DIHINGIA
33 KHIRUD DIHINGIA 34 BALIN GOHAIN
DHAKUAKHANA DHAKUAKHANA DHUKUAKHANA DHUKUAKHANA DHUKUAKHANA DHUKUAKHANA DHUKUAKHANA DHUKUAKHANA DHUKUAKHANA
DHAKUAKHANA DHAKUAKHANA DHAKUAKHANA DHAKUAKHANA DHAKUAKHANA GHILAMARA GHILAMARA GHILAMARA DHAKUAKHANA GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH GOGAMUKH NAKARI
35 DIBAKAR BURAGOHAIN 36 BHUBAN GOHAIN 37 TULASHI BORUAH 38 SADANANDA DIHINGIA 39 KANAK LAHAN
TANKESWAR CHUTIA BIKASH DUTTA BROJEN GOHAIN
- HEMANTA SAIKIA
- 40 BISHWAJIT GOHAIN
10 SWARNA DIHINGIA 11 DENDESWAR BURAGOHAIN 12 ARUN BURAGOHAIN 13 LALIT CHETIA
41 UMESWAR BURAGOHAIN DHUKUAKHANA 42 NABAJIT BURAGOHAIN 43 DULAL GOHAIN
DHUKUAKHANA PANIGAON
44 BUBUL RAJKHOWA 45 DHREN GOHAIN
PANIGAON
14 PRADIP BORGOHAIN 15 PADMESWAR CHETIA 16 HUMEN CHETIA
NAPAM BHARTI SONOWAL GAON BHARTI SONOWAL GAON
46 KANAKA SONOWAL
NISISIONIGDHA
47 SONOWAL
17 DIGANTA BORGOHAIN 18 HEMDHAR CHETIA 19 GANDHESWAR CHETIA 20 JANMONI BORUAH 21 MADHURIMA GOGOI 22 MANJU DUTTA
48 SUSHANTA SAIKIA 49 DILIP GOGOI
CHUTIAKARI NAPAM,RANGPURIA
- --------------
- 50 BOHAIN SONOWAL
51 DIPSHIKHA DEVI 52 MUNINDRA GOGOI 53 PRABHAT SAIKIA 54 KAMAL GOHAIN 55 PRIYANKA PHUKAN 56 PRIYANKA DIHINGIA 57 MUNMUN DUTTA
GHILAMARA PANOIGAON PANIGAON
NARAYANPUR PADAIMONI
- DHALPUR
- 23 LAKHIDHAR GOGOI
24 DILIP DIHINGIA
PANIGAON
GHILAMARA AZAD
GOHAIN TEKELA
- MAJAGURI
- 25 PRABIN KUMAR CHANGMAI
- 26 DHURBAJIT CHANGMAI
- MAJAGURI
- MAJAGURI
27 SANGITA MAHANTA 28 BIKASHBORAH
PANINDRA ROAD NAHARBARI
- 58 LUCKY DUTTA
- CHINATOLIA
- KHEMATI
- 59 JYOTI BHUYAN DAS
29 BIDISHA BORAH 30 BISHWAJIT BORUAH 31 PRANATI SAIKIA
- BILATIA
- 60 DIGANTA RAJKHOWA
61 LALIT PHUKAN
PANIGAON
- SUKU
- NAHARBARI
- NARAYANPUR
- 62 SHISHURAM DUTTA
- DHUKUAKHANA
91 BABUL DIHINGIA 92 REEMA CHUTIA 93 DEVIKA CHUTIA
CHINAI GOHAIN BOGINODI
- 63 AMRIT KONCH
- BHOIMURI
64 RANJANA SONOWAL 65 NIPA HAZARIKA KONCH 66 TULASHI DUTTA
BHAS
GHILAMARA
BHOIMURI
94 BINU KUMARI GOGOI BOGINODI
K.B.ROAD
- 67 ASWINI KALITA
- JAPISAJIA
- 95 DILIP GOGOI
- GHILAMARA
- GHILAMARA
- 68 BIPUL SAIKIA
- JANAKPUR
- 96 RITU GOHAIN
69 PALLAVI SONOWAL 70 JANAKI SONOWAL 71 NABA KUMAR PEGU 72 VIDYA MONI GOGOI 73 JUKTI RAINA SAIKIA 74 GOBIND SAIKIA
BHORTISONOWAL GAON BHORTISONOWAL GAON SILAPATHAR
97 RAJEN DIHINGIA 98 MOUSAMI BORAH 99 THANESWAR GOGOI
100 SUNIL SONOWAL
GHILAMARA BIJOY NAGAR, WARD NO -14