This article has been written by Tanvitha Reddy Kadasani, a 2nd year BA LLB student of Osmania University College of Law, Hyderabad.
ABSTRACT
Make in India aims to promote and develop goods made by Indian producers and support the growth of domestic industries and good and service-providing companies. It is an initiative of the Indian government to attract foreign businesses and investors to invest and produce in India. Another such initiative is Vocal for Local which also aims at supporting and developing India-made goods and services and further help alleviate local and rural poverty. This article intends to explore the relevance of Geographical Indications under the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property agreement (TRIPS) in promoting and strengthening the government’s initiatives ‘Make in India’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ to strengthen domestic goods and service providing industries.
VOCAL FOR LOCAL
With the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat PM Narendra Modi introduced the Vocal for Local. Vocal for Local aims to encourage the production of local products, use of local products and their promotion provide employment to the local population, and develop the socioeconomic condition of the area. The local producers are encouraged to use the resources available and cut down on imported resources to reduce dependency on foreign goods. Through this, the local producers will achieve greater recognition, and domestic Indian companies and manufacturers can become future big players in the market.
A geographical indication is a useful tool for promoting Vocal for Local as the basis of GI itself is the uniqueness of products found in a specific location and the promotion and production of the same.
MAKE IN INDIA
The initiative Make in India was launched in 2014 by the Indian Government. The main objective of this initiative is to promote investment and innovation in Indian industries and to encourage foreign businesses to operate in India boosting the local and national economy and providing employment. One facet of this initiative is also set to protect the country’s intellectual property regime. For this purpose Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) came up with several strategies, some initiatives of the strategy are:
Increase in posts at IP offices
Facility for online e-filing
Rebate on online filing
Fee concession for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
Operation of Madrid Protocol
IPR awareness programmes
International Search Authority and International Preliminary Examination Authority
Among the Intellectual Property Geographical indications are the most unexplored and less discussed. However, it is a great tool in promoting ‘Make in India’ without any foreign direct investment as it protects and supports the production of a good by identifying it to be produced in a specific territory, which also contributes to socio-economic development in that specific location as the GI labeled good provides a means of livelihood to the locals and creates employment without any interference from foreign actors. The geographical indication can be used to boost the Make in India initiative. It acts as a tool in branding strategy and a badge of reputation which gives producers an incentive to produce domestically.
WHY GI IS MOST SUITED FOR ‘MAKE IN INDIA’
There are many benefits of GI which include promoting local production giving rise to local employment, protection of culture and traditional methods of production, and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem by stressing on sustainable production processes. For these benefits in the current scenario of Make in India, GI is the most suitable strategy for various reasons.
Geographical indication identifies goods to be produced from a specific geographical area, through this it helps boost the economic development in that area. GI builds a reputation for products and reputation increases the market visibility of the product. In the local areas where the GI tagged good is manufactured and produced the local population gets employment opportunities and the economic condition and lifestyle also develop. The majority of the Indian population is rural and the village population is mainly dependent on agriculture it has been observed that the majority of GI labeled goods are agricultural, handicraft, and artesian products mostly made by rural and village populations with the traditional developed in that location.
Employment opportunity to locals reduces migration from rural to urban cities in search of jobs, this not only develops employment opportunities but also preserves traditional knowledge unique to that place and people living there. The GI also aims to protect quality products which coincides with the aim of the Make in India initiative to facilitate high quality products in India.
Make in India also aims to increase the use of environmentally friendly production methods. GI promotes sustainable production processes to conserve biodiversity and the ecosystem. Before granting GI the product is tested to ensure that environmentally friendly modes of production are used.
Geographical Indication is most suitable for the Make in India initiative
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, GI has a very relevant role in promoting Make in India and endorsing Vocal for Local. GI not only protects the identity of a product but also increases the reputation of a place. Just as products are identified by their place of origin even the place may be identified by the product found there. Make in India and Vocal for Local aim at making India Atmanirbhar i.e., independence of industries and businesses from foreign investment and imported resources. They also target making local and rural populations self-reliant and developing their socio-economic conditions, even in this aspect geographical indication helps generate employment and protect traditional knowledge. However Geographical Indication is much less discussed and awareness is still lacking. Effective coordination between the government and Indian private companies is needed to spread awareness and support small local businesses with great potential.
REFERENCES
This article was written by Maria Hailey. H and published by the Government of India website. The link for the same lies herein https://static.mygov.in/indiancc/2021/07/mygov-999999999891123585.pdf
This article was written by Akanksha R Sawant and published on the Government of India website. The link for the same is herein https://static.mygov.in/indiancc/2021/08/mygov-9999999991472470021.pdf
This research paper was written by Abhishek Singh and published in the International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences. The link for the same is herein https://www.ijmra.us/project%20doc/2017/IJPSS_JUNE2017/IJMRA-11606.pdf
This article was written by Sambhabi Patnaik and published on the BananIP website. The link for the same lies herein https://www.bananaip.com/ip-news-center/gi/
This research paper was written by Cerkia Bramley, Estelle Bienabe, and Johann Kirsten and published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. The link for the same is herein https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_1012-chapter4.pdf