Date:28/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/28/stories/2005062801521700.htm

Back `Silkmark' label: TN accounts for over 50 pc of licensed users

G. Gurumurthy

The Silkmark symbol

Coimbatore , June 27

THE `Silkmark', the fledgling pure-silk labelling promoted by the Central Silk Board to ensure genuine silk at the retail end seems to be gaining ground in Tamil Nadu.

More than 50 per cent of the 131 marketing establishments so far authorised by the Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) to use its high security e-beam `Silkmark' hologram are from Tamil Nadu. The SMOI is the nodal agency to implement the `Silkmark' scheme.

The `Silkmark' scheme was launched in June last year as a consumer awareness programme on genuine silk. The SMOI has so far enrolled 183 members from the trade including manufacturers and retailers. Of this, 75 are from Tamil Nadu. Out of these registered members from the State, 70 are licensed to use the `Silkmark' label.

According to Mr P.M. Pandi, Deputy Director and SMOI's nodal officer from Chennai, the Chennai nodal office has sold 3.91 lakh `silkmark' labels to the licensed users in the State.

Among the list of authorised `silkmark' users are the top silk saree retailers, major weaver cooperatives including the `Co-optex' and Sarvodaya sanghs.

The SMOI is set to popularising the usage of the `Silkmark' logo across the sector and has proposed to launch the scheme in Hyderabad this month end.