[Reader-list] Yet another Propaganda against Pandits

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*Himachal carpets being sold under Kashmir brand *
  GI for Kashmir carpets not possible: CDI


*Rashid Paul* - *Rising Kashmir*

*Srinagar May 31:* The absence of trade mark and Geographic Indication for
Kashmir Carpet is taking a heavy toll on carpet business as rugs from
Himachal Pradesh are being sold under Kashmir brand.

Kashmir carpet has an identity of its own in the world rugs market, however,
lack of discrete identification label provides room for unscrupulous people
to manipulate Kashmir name, according to carpet dealers. The unfair practice
is being followed in Himachal Pradesh where carpets are being sold under
Kashmiri name for the past couple of years.

Experts warn if such fiddling is not stopped Kashmir carpet industry with an
annual turn over of more than Rs 1000 crores (official estimates Rs 500
crores) will be ruined. The industry directly provides employment to more
than one lakh people.

Confirming the trend, the president Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(KCCI), Dr Mubin Shah said that a Kashmir migrant Pandit associated with
Carpet Promotion Council of India is selling Himachal made carpets as a
Kashmiri product in the Indian and the international market.

The government has wasted one year in executing the Geographic Indication
(GI) plan that could have stopped any unwarranted venture with Kashmir
handicraft items, he said adding the Chamber will soon develop a label of
its own that will certify carpets made in Kashmir.

Mubin claimed that KCCI has been authorized by government of India in giving
certificate of origin to handicrafts manufactured in Kashmir. He said the
chamber will hire the services of some artists and experts to begin the
process of certification.

Zubair Ahmed, director of Indian Institute of Carpet Technology,
Bagh-e-ali-mardan-khan said that labeling and certification proposal for
Kashmiri carpets has been sent to the central government. We also meet KCCI
in this regard. Labeling and certification will to some extent help in
protecting the carpet industry of Kashmir, he said.

M S Farooqi, director Craft Development Institute told Rising Kashmir that G
I status, that protects the community ownership of a particular handmade
product, can not be extended to Kashmir carpets as similar ones are made in
Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, means are being devised to bring
the product under the G I tag by connecting it with indigenous silk, which
has already received a silk mark.