Sano Meru
January 10
Kohima (MExN): The need to protect the originality of Naga handloom has always been long felt for the past 30 years for fear of imitation and illegal reproduction which is very often a case all over the world.
Thus, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in association with the Government of Nagaland, taking the issue strongly at hand, has decided to initiate steps to safeguard and consolidate Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) projects to protect crafts of Nagaland under the IPR laws. This project would be funded by the Development Commission (Handicrafts).
In this regard, an awareness programme which would mark the first phase of the week long workshop from 16 January to the 23th comprising of artisans in the craft areas of textiles & handloom, semi-precious jewellery and lifestyle products would be conducted. This workshop would be a way to select and adopt to symbolize the rich and myriad handicrafts of Nagaland.
From the very first string of the making of the handloom, it would be documented by the NIFT faculty team where a book would also be published documenting the same, to keep a track record which would preserve the traditional methods and protect its originality, unique to this region.
This would also prevent cheap replication that obliterates the authenticity of these crafts. The second phase which would be of documentation has not yet been decided upon. The issue which is very likely to arise would be the ownership of the patent.
The Nagaland Government keeping the issue in mind, has decided to invite all the tribal Hohos and NGOs of the state during the workshop, to discuss on the matter as well to arrive on a consensus on the said patents, Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Alemtemshi Jamir disclosed in a press conference here today. The event is to be held at the premises of the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur.
He said that the Government of Nagaland would be very transparent on the issue to avoid any unnecessary controversy on the serious matter. “Nobody should be left out in this important matter, we would be totally transparent and every person has to be aware of the patents before the documentation” he said.
