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Now, patents for chikan work, dussheri mangoes
Expressindia.com, December 02, 2007

By Tarannum Manjul

Lucknow, December 1 What is common between chikan from Lucknow, pottery from Khurja, tribal craft from Bahraich, durries from Sitapur, sarees from Varanasi, bangles from Firozabad, locks from Aligarh and clay work from Chunar? Apart from the fact that they are all handicraft products from Uttar Pradesh, they may soon be patented so that they can fetch better prices in European markets.

This move will also help in curbing the exploitation of artisans. The initiative to patent these crafts has been taken by the Network of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (NEED) and a patent for chikan is not far off.

NEED, along with CUTS International, Jaipur organised a day-long discussion on “Trade, Development and Poverty Reduction Project on Gender Perspectives and Engagement on State Representatives and other development stake holders in existing National Foreign Trade Policy (NFTP) of the GOI” on Friday in the state capital.

“If an item is patented, then its price will increase by 13 per cent in European markets. A patent will also ensure better prices for our craftsmen, specially women, who have been exploited so far,” said Anil K Singh, CEO NEED.

Apart from these handicrafts, NEED is also campaigning for patents for dussheri mangoes from Malihabad, aaola from Pratapgarh (both in UP) and makhana from Darbhanga and shahi lichi from Muzzafarpur (Bihar). “Farmers, especially women, don’t get the best prices for their products,” Singh said.

NEED also organised a discussion on the issue of strengthening linkages between poverty reduction, trade and development and gender on Friday.

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