CM Majhi inaugurates exclusive Boyanika outlet showcasing traditional handwoven fabrics of Odisha

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 27 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated an exclusive Boyanika Outlet in the presence of Deputy CMs KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar.

The Boyanika Outlet inaugurated on Friday showcased GI-tagged, traditional handwoven fabrics of Odisha.

Notably, the Ministry of Textiles has been providing financial assistance for registration of handloom products under the Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods Act, 1999. GI help desks have been setup at each Weavers Service Centre to address the issues related to GI products and to promote GI in handloom clusters. So far, 65 handloom products and six product logos have been registered under the GI Act.

Kotpad Handloom Fabric, Orissa Ikat, Khandua Saree And Fabrics, Gopalpur Tussar Fabrics, Dhalapathar Parda & Fabrics, Sambalpuri Bandha Saree & Fabrics, Bomkai Saree & Fabrics, Habaspuri Saree and Fabrics, and Berhampur Patta (Phoda Kumbha) Saree & Joda have been categorised as GI-tagged handlooms.

Geographical indications of goods are defined as that aspect of industrial property that refers to the geographical indication referring to a country or to a place situated therein as being the country or place of origin of that product.

Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the fact that its origin is in that defined geographical locality, region, or country. Under Articles 1(2) and 10 of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, geographical indications are covered as an element of IPRs. They are also covered under Articles 22 to 24 of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, which was part of the agreements concluding the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations.

India, as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force on September 15, 2003.