Nicobar Hodi Craft

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands recently filed an application for the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Nicobari Hodi craft.
• This is the Union Territory's first application for a tag for one of its products.
• Previously, Mithila Makhana received the GI designation from the government.

What is Nicobari Hodi?

• The hodi is the traditional craft of the Nicobari tribe. It is an outrigger canoe, which is very common in the Nicobar group of islands.
• The technical skills required to construct a hodi are based on indigenous knowledge passed down to the Nicobarese from their forefathers.
• The hodi is constructed from either locally available trees or trees from neighbouring islands, and its design varies slightly from island to island.
• Considerations include the length of the finished canoe, which must be 12 times its width, and the length of the undressed tree trunk, which must be 15 times its width.
• Hodis are used to transport people and goods from one island to another, to transport coconuts, and for fishing and racing.
• The tuhet, a group of families led by a chief, regard the hodi as a valuable asset. Between islands and villages, Hodi races are held.

What exactly is a Geographical Indication (GI) label?

• The Geographical Indication (GI) is a symbol used to identify goods with unique characteristics that originate in a specific geographical area.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999 aims to improve the registration and protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• The World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights governs and directs it (TRIPS).
• It was decided, and it is also stated in Articles 1 (2) and 10 of the Paris Convention, that industrial property and geographical indications are elements of intellectual property.
• It is primarily a natural, agricultural, or manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods).
• Validity: This tag is valid for ten years after which it can be renewed.
• Importance: Once a product receives this label, no individual or company may sell a similar item under that name.
• A product's GI registration provides legal protection and prevents unauthorised use by others.
• The GI tag aids in the promotion of the product's exports.
• It also gives customers confidence in the product's authenticity.

Registration of Geographic Indications:

• There is a proper process for registering geographical indications products, which includes application filing, preliminary scrutiny and examination, show cause notice, publication in the geographical indications journal, opposition to registration, and registration.
• Any association of people, producers, organisations, or authorities established by or under the law is eligible to apply.
• The applicant must represent the producers' interests.
• The Geographical Indications Registry, which is in charge of GI Goods administration, is established in Chennai.