Bhubaneswar: The traditional Sambalpuri saree—and the pride of Odisha’s handlooms—has been making the right noises recently, be it on the national or international stage.
First time MP from Odisha, 70-year-old Pramila Bisoi, stood out at parliament with the pallu of her Sambalpuri saree draped over her head and a vibrant line of sindoor parting her hair.
On her part, Odia actress Swapna Pati slayed it at the Cannes film festival by wearing a Sambalpuri saree on the red carpet, bringing glory to her home state and its rich culture.
Notwithstanding the accolades, not everything is fine with this world famous weave in its own home. The blatant replication of Sambalpuri designs has cast a shadow on the livelihood of traditional weavers in Odisha.
In the latest such incident, Bargarh police had even registered a case against a Rajasthan-based garment manufacturer for allegedly replicating Sambalpuri saree designs and selling them.
Expressing concern over this state of affairs, BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya has asked the Centre for the strict implementation of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act to safeguard the interest of weavers and traders in Odisha.
“After agriculture, Odisha’s handicraft and handlooms is quite popular and this sector also provides huge employment opportunities. But now the Sambalpuri Saree design is being replicated by some traders outside the state. As lakhs of such fake Sambalpuri Sarees are now being sold in Odisha, the genuine traders and weavers are facing problems and incurring losses,” said Acharya.
The MP further stated that the Sambalpuri saree is protected under the GI tag, but some traders in Erode and Pali in Gujarat were violating the norm.
“I have urged the Central Government for strict enforcement of the GI Act. Besides, a request has also been made to restore the 10% rebate for the weavers and artisans on handloom cloth, which was withdrawn earlier,” he added.
