By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 18 Nov: Uttaranchal University organized a workshop on ‘Introduction to Geographical Indications: Roadmap to process. promote registration of GI in Uttarakhand‘ on Monday.
Under the chairmanship of the university’s Vice-Chancellor Dharam Buddhi, a committee was set up to identify the potential GIs in Uttarakhand region. Members of the committee comprised Rajesh Singh, Director Research & Innovation, Ashish Sharma, IPR Attorney, Brijmohan Sharma, SPECS, Dehradun and Himanshu Goel, UCOST, Dehradun.
Brijmohan Sharma suggested that a geographical survey can be conducted in the entire Uttarakhand for identification of GI. Ashish Sharma, IPR Attorney, discussed about the process and requirement and documentation for filing GI. The deliberations included detailed provision of how an application for Geographical identification is filed until the application is granted and the processes therein. Kapil Kaushik, Director, Staldyn and Manoj Bisaria from Samwad 360 emphasized on SDG and elaborated on the prospects of research in the area and how the concept has blossomed globally. Rajesh Singh, Director Research & Innovation, Uttaranchal University, spoke on the importance of collaboration and came forward for taking initiatives for identifying GI and suggested students to help NGOs to prepare their documentation. He also mentioned IPFC from MSME is established at Uttaranchal University to support IPR registrations by MSME and NGOs free of cost.
Chief Guest at the event, president Jitendra Joshi inaugurated the session with lighting of lamp. Guest of honour Dharam Buddhi emphasized on the importance of GI and role of universities to protect IPRs. V Ramakrishnan, deputy director, Ministry of MSME, emphasized on the importance of GI in agricultural products and their quality plus the role of geography of the area. Subhash Chandra, assistant director, Ministry of MSME, compared the development of GI from when it had originated to the current trend where he discussed the contributions of Uttaranchal University.More than 300 NGOs, MSMEs’ and students participated in the expert session where dignitaries from the field of GI shared the process and roadmap to GI. NGOs from Uttarakhand and other participants also shared their views and challenges to register IPRs. An interactive question-answer session marked the event.
