IPR sought for Pune headgear

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) In order to obviate instances like
those in the past of foreigners claiming intellectual property
rights for Indian goods and inventions, a Pune-based
organisation has sought geographical exclusivity for the
famous headgear 'Puneri Pagadi'.

The pagadi is considered as a symbol of pride and honour
in the region.

Pune-based Shree Puneri Pagadi Sangh has submitted an
application before the Geographical Indication Registry,
seeking the GI (geographical indication) tag for the turban.

"An early IPR protection of Puneri Pagadi will obviate
the country's past experiences in cases like Basmati rice and
turmeric, where we fought to prove that these originated in
India," Sangh's representative Great Mission Group
Consultancy's Ganesh Hingmire told PTI.

According to the information available with the official
Journal of the Geographical Indication, Sangh has sought GI
status for Puneri Pagadi under "Class 25", which deals with
clothing, footwear and headgear products.

"We are also seeking the GI tag for Puneri Pagadi with an
aim to preserve the culture and a significant identity of the
city," Hingmire further said.

The application claims that Mahadev Govind Ranade
introduced the prevalent "Puneri Pagadi" for the first time
nearly two centuries ago.

Since then, it has been worn by great leaders and famous
personalities like Lokmanya Tilak, J S Karandikar, D D Sathye,
Tatyasaheb Kelkar and Dato Waman Pottdar.

"Puneri Pagadi" has now become a matter of heritage, the
Sangh claims.

"In addition to this it is in use to felicitate the
Guest of Honour.... Thus it totally adheres to Puneri culture
and must be preserved ...," the Sangh has claimed.

Under legal protection, the GI tag helps if there is any
violation of its exclusive rights. The GI tag aims at
promoting the economic prosperity of producers of goods in a
geographical area.

Usually, the tag is granted to goods that essentially
originate and are produced in a defined geographical locality
and region.

Geographical indications are covered as part of
intellectual property rights. The GI tag has been awarded to a
number of Indian products or goods, including the famous
Darjeeling tea.