Chennai, March 12. (PTI): The world-renowned Kanchi silk sarees would soon come out with a special logo to certify their authenticity as part of the Tamil Nadu Government's steps to protect the interests of traditional weavers.

With the industry facing a crisis as a result of fake silk sarees flooding markets, the State Government was going ahead with implementation of the 'Geographical Indication Act', which ensures patent rights, besides the logo for Kanchi silk.

As per the Act, enacted by the State Assembly last year, Kanchi silk weavers would be registered with the Handloom Department and sarees woven by them would carry the logo.

Handloom Department officials said, the logo was ready and the Department was receiving applications from weavers. The applications would be scrutinised before registration and the process would be completed within a month.

"This is great news and relief for about 50,000 weavers and silk manufacturers in Kanchi, whose lives were greatly affected due to the invasion of fake silk sarees for the last 10 years. This is one of our long-pending demands to protect the world famous and prestigious industry," said Kanchi Silk Manufacturers Association president Y M Narayanasamy.

"This would double the sale of Kanchi silk sarees, since 50 per cent of the sarees sold now as Kanchi silk are fake," he added.

Narayanasamy said, the implementation of the Act would definitely save the Kanchi silk industry and put it on the path of recovery.

However, rising prices of zari (used to make silk) was a major cause of worry.

"During the last six months, zari prices had increased to Rs 5100 from Rs 2500, exerting great pressure on the manufacturers to compromise with the quality," he said.

E Muthukumar, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers Association, affiliated to the CITU, said the Act's implementation would be a major reprieve to silk weavers afflicted with several problems for the last one decade.

"Weavers working under private silk manufacturers are the worst affected. Most of the weavers are jobless for a major part of the year and their survival was in question as they do not know any other occupation other than weaving, a traditional art they inherited from their ancestors," he said.

There was a wide gap between the wages of weavers working with Government societies and private companies. Those with private manufacturers were not getting enough work while the wages were meagre, he said.

Once, Kanchi silk industry recovered due to the Act, weavers could hope for better wages and better lives.

"Kanchi silk, stained with weavers' tears till now, will recover its glory and prestige soon. One of the ancient, traditional industries of the country will be saved from extinction," J Kamalanathan, Kancheepuram Silk weavers Association Secretary, said.

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