GUWAHATI:
Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi released a handbook on the Geographical Indications (GI) published by National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam, during a function held at the campus on May 25.
The book lays special focus on the Northeast, which is filled with a variety of plants and animals’ species that many may not be aware of, and hence need an overall understanding of the rich natural resources that surround the region.
Speaking on the occasion of the book launch, Mukhi said that the Northeast comprising of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura is a veritable repository of rare flora – fauna and distinctive cultural bequest, and GI registration of the natural and cultural abundance of the region has the potential to establish the physiographic authenticity and also map regional exclusivity on a global platform.
In this context, the handbook, he said, could guide regional stakeholders towards securing the sanctity of their bio-cultural heritage and also safeguarding their livelihood.
Further underlining the importance of GI tag, Mukhi said, “It is a laudable enterprise which offers on the mechanism of GI registration of traditional artistry, natural and manufactured products endemic to the region. The handbook is pertinent in the context of North East India, which, in spite of the rich biodiversity, is lagging behind in terms of optimizing GI tagging to its benefit.”
Stressing on the need to spread awareness about GI tagging among the grass-root stakeholders who are the curator of traditional knowledge and predominantly engage in agrarian activities, he said that educational institutes should expand their purview and reach out to the community with the vision to empower them with knowledge of GI.
Addressing the gathering at the university campus, the Governor also urged the university to disseminate the knowledge documented in the handbook among the masses, particularly those who live in rural and peri-urban locales of the region where natural bounty thrives in abundance.
The Governor congratulated NLUJA, Assam IPR Chair for its efforts towards protection of the natural and cultural abundance of the North-East region in respect of Geographical Indications in the form of the publication of the book.
The book release function was attended by Chief Justice (Acting) of Gauhati High Court and chancellor of National Law University and Judicial Academy Justice N Kotiswar Singh, vice-chancellor of the University Prof VK Ahuja, Kamrup deputy commissioner Kailash Karthik N, faculty members, administrative staff, students of the university along with other dignitaries.