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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.
This news item can also be viewed at:
http://www.expressindia.com/
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