Recently, a firm filed an application seeking a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Arunachal Pradesh Apatani textile product. This action has been met with significant attention in the news.
About the Apatani Weave and Its Origin
The Apatani weave originates from the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh residing at Ziro, the headquarters of the lower Subansiri district. The Apatani community is gifted in producing its textiles for assorted purposes, including rituals and cultural festivals. Their woven fabric is celebrated for its geometric and zigzag patterns and angular designs.
Predominantly, this tribe weaves shawls known as jig-jiro and jilan or jackets referred to as supuntarii. They rely on a variety of leaves and plant resources for organically dyeing the cotton yarns in their traditional ways. Women exclusively conduct weaving in this community.
The traditional handloom of this tribe is a type of loin loom, known as Chichin. It resembles the traditional handloom of the Nyishi tribe and is portable, easy to install, and can be operated by a single weaver, typically a female member of the community.
A Snapshot of the Apatani Tribe
Aaptani is a tribal population living in the Ziro valley in Arunachal Pradesh. They speak a local language called Tani and pay homage to the sun and the moon. Their social forestry system emphasizes sustainability. They celebrate Dree in hope of a bountiful harvest and prosperity of humankind and Myoko to commemorate friendship.
The Apatanis utilize aquaculture in conjunction with rice farming in their fields. Rice-fish cultivation in the valley is a unique custom in the state, where two rice crops (Mipya and Emoh) and one fish crop (Ngihi) are grown together. The Apatani is a scheduled tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
Current GI Products from Arunachal Pradesh
Presently, Arunachal Orange (Agricultural) and Idu Mishmi Textiles (Handicraft) hold the GI tag from Arunachal Pradesh. The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh include Abor, Aka, Dafla, Galong, Khampti, Khowa, Mishmi, Monpa, Momba, Any Naga tribes, Sherdukpen, and Singpho.
About the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is a sign allocated to products that originate from a particular geographical region and possess qualities or a reputation ascribed to that origin. The tag must identify a product as originating in a given place and is used for agricultural, natural, and manufactured goods.
International Protection for GI
Internationally, GI tags are safeguarded as an Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) element under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Adopted in 1883, this convention extends to industrial property in its broadest sense, which includes patents, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, service marks, trade names, geographical indications, and the repression of unfair competition. The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) also governs GI.
GI Protection in India
India, as a WTO member, enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999, effective from 2003. This Act facilitates the registration and protection of GI goods in India, overseen by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks, also the Registrar of Geographical Indications. The Geographical Indications Registry for India is stationed in Chennai. A geographical indication registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely in 10-year increments.
Benefits of a GI Tag
Once a product is granted the GI protection, no other producer can misuse its name to market similar products. It assures customers about the authenticity of that product. Having a GI tag for a product deters the unauthorised use of a registered Geographical Indication by others, fosters exports of Indian Geographical indications through legal protection, and allows seeking legal protection in other WTO member countries. In India, examples of Geographical Indications include basmati rice, Darjeeling tea, Kancheepuram silk saree, Nagpur orange, and Kolhapuri chappal.