Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Bihar Bridging the Gap of Income Divide ?

Bihar Bridging the Gap of Income Divide ? 
-Vidyanand Acharya

With per capita income of Rs 30,930, Bihar has been narrowing down the gap in a big way with the national average, according to the latest economic survey presented in the state Assembly on Friday.

The per capita income of Bihar in 2012-13 was Rs 30,930, the survey presented by the Minister in-charge Vijay Chaudhary said. The ratio of Bihar's per capita income to All India has increased to 41.18 per cent in 2012-13 over 37.18 per cent in 2011-12, it said. The survey report tabled in the Assembly on the opening day of the budget session, said that the rate of growth has more than doubled during 2006-2013 as compared to period 1999-2005-06.

Bihar was ruled by the present Nitish Kumar government during 2006-13, and before that, it was RJD regime. During 1999-2005-06, the state income at constant prices, grew at an annual rate of 5.7 per cent. After that, the economy witnessed a turnaround and grew at an annual rate of 12 per cent, it said. "The rate of growth achieved by the economy during 2006-2013 is not only much higher, but one of the highest among all Indian states," the report said. It further said that the rate of growth of vital agriculture and allied sector was 5.9 per cent during 2006-13 as compared to only 3 per cent during 1999-2005-06.

 The report said that the agriculture road map ensured that productivity steadily rises and it has reached a productivity of over 200 kg per hectare for paddy in recent years. The survey reflected progress witnessed in all sectors of the economy. The number of foreign tourists recorded more than six time-increase in 2012 at 11 lakh over 1.8 lakh in 2007, it said, adding during this period, the number of domestic tourists doubled. "Of the total foreign tourists' arrival in top 10 states in India, 5 per cent visited Bihar, putting the state at the sixth rank among the top 10 in 2013," the report said.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Indian "KHADI" is at Stake

Government objects use of Khadi trademark by German company
Khadi - the handspun and hand-woven cloth is amidst a trademark battle. A German company, Khadi Naturprodukte is making efforts to use the khadi trademark for selling a range of Indian-origin products, including shampoos, soaps and oils in European markets. The company has already been granted a trademark by the Office for Harmonization in Internal Markets, an organisation responsible for trademark and design registration in EU.
The Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), an arm of the ministry of micro, small & medium enterprises, has sought cancellation of the trademark registered in EU. The DIPP has advised the KVIC to register the khadi brand for its range of products in the US and the EU through an international trademark application under the World Intellectual Property Organization's Madrid Protocol.
The German company mentions on its website that "Khadi is a unique brand for the European market and only exclusively available with us." If the class of products for which the trademark has been granted to the German company includes textiles, then there are greater chances for India dominating the case.
Several trademarks have been registered in India including brands and labels such as ‘Khadi’, ‘Khadi Gramudyog’ and ‘Khadi Bharat’. A GI tag for khadi products on behalf of all Indian khadi producers had been sought by the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Attorneys Association.