Pashmina shawls have been synonymous with Kashmir for decades. However, this craft has got into trouble as all the efforts to take Geographical Indicator (GI) patent for kashmiri Pashmina is facing strong objection from Pakistan based Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce. Further Srinagar based artisan body, Kashmir Handmade Pashmina Promotion Trust(KHPPT)are also opposing it.
On one hand Pakistani organization wants Pashmina products from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to be counted as Kashmiri Pashmina and on the other Srinagar based artisans' state that patent application is faulty.
GI, in Chennai received a patent application from Srinagar based Craft Development Institute (CDI), supported by Indian Government, for Kashmir Pashmina, Sozni Embroidery and Kani Shawls.
Srinagar, for a long time has for been the centre of Pashmina weaving and spinning. KHPPT wants addition of hand spun Pashmina yarn and not just the shawl in patent. It also demands that machine made products should be ruled out of this patent appeal. Further,organisation claims that no compromise would be made in terms of quality of the product.
Kashmiri craftsmen are going through rough phase, they are facing tough competition from fake machine made low priced products. To add to this, their wages have also reduced as now machine made yarns from Amritsar is being used for weaving these products.
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