The eligible agencies which have undertaken the initiatives for the promotion of Geographical Indications (GIs) products shall be provided financial assistance by the government.
Operational guidelines have been issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for the financial assistance for undertaking the initiatives for the promotion of GIs.
Financial Assistance to Agencies to Promote Geographical Indications (GIs) Products
Dealing with the investments and intellectual property rights (IPRs), DPIIT is an arm of the commerce and industry ministry whereas the Geographical Indications (GIs) products are primarily an agricultural, natural or manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.
Essentially attributable to the place of its origin, typically this name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness.
Some of these famous goods that carry GI tag include Basmati rice, Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric, Mysore Silk, Kullu Shawl, Kangra Tea, Thanjavur Paintings, Allahabad Surkha, Farrukhabad Prints, Lucknow Zardozi and Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving.
In a note DPIIT said that “In accordance with the objectives of national IPR policy, Government of India will provide financial assistance to eligible agencies for undertaking initiatives for Promotion of GIs, which aims to create awareness about significance of GIs and its uniqueness, promoting registered Indian GIs, identify potential GIs and encourage stakeholders towards registration”.
The objective as per DPIIT is to be provide varied platforms to GI stakeholders thereby giving them ample opportunities for business development and income generation.
Extra Information Related to GI goods producers shall be added
It said that the initiatives would also include capturing socio- economic status of GI goods producers, their livelihood conditions and other related information, which would assist in devising suitable policy interventions.
It said that the “financial assistance will be extended to eligible agencies as 100 per cent grants in aid for undertaking initiatives for promotion of GIs.”
As mentioned in the operational guidelines, the disbursement of the assistance will be subject to actual expenditure or head-wise maximum permissible amount whichever is less for grants-in-aid.
It also said, while throwing light on eligible agencies, that the department may on its own undertake initiatives for the promotion of GIs within the country as well as abroad with Indian diplomatic missions or its agency or jointly with India’s apex industry chambers and their overseas counterparts.
After a product gets a GI tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
The other benefits of GI registration include legal protection for the item, prevention against unauthorised use by others, and promotion of exports.
