Kondapalli toys to get IP protection

Kondapalli toys and dolls manufacturers will soon get the intellectual property rights (IPRs) for their creative works.

According to U Surya Prakasa Rao, president of the Kondapalli Wooden Toys Manufacturers' Mutually Aided Purchase and Sales Cooperative Society, all formalities for grant of IP protection have been completed.

The society, along with its benefactor Lanco Institute of General Humanitarian Trust (LIGHT), had engaged Anand and Anand consultancy firm for the purpose.

As of now, only Pochampalli artisans in Andhra have the IPRs for their specialties.

Rao told Business Standard that artisans who could barely make handicraft toys worth Rs 1 lakh per annum in 1990s, marketed toys worth Rs 5 lakh in 2000.

With help from state and Central governments, and strong support from the Lanco group, the artisans produced products worth Rs 40 lakh in 2005-06.

While Lepakshi, which had entrusted work of each of its emporia to 10 artisans, sold toys and dolls worth Rs 30 lakh, the society on its own did a business of Rs 10 lakh.

In recent months, he said, corporates such as Bharat Biotech, State Bank of Hyderabad, Sanghi group and GMR group came forward to buy Kondapalli toys for presenting them as gifts.

This year, the society hopes to get orders worth Rs 40 lakh from these companies. It expects to produce toys worth Rs 1 crore once the Rs 15-lakh modern workshop, being constructed by the Lanco group, comes up.

He said the number of artisans increased from 60 to 180 as the profession had turned the corner. A couple now earns Rs 6,000-10,000 per month.

The Design and Technical Development Centre, Bangalore, Crafts Council of India and the National Institute of Fashion Technology in collaboration with Lanco have conducted a number of workshops for the artisans, which have helped them develop new and striking designs and natural (vegetable) colours.

Result-oriented production targets and meeting of deadlines are adhered to. Consequently, he said, market increased by 10 times in four or five years.

Besides, The All-India Handicrafts Extension Centre, a wing of the textiles ministry, is now giving a special training under the Guru-Sishya Parampara programme to 15 artisans, where these artisans would be taught the technology adopted by Kashmiri artisans.

"These artisans use 'tellaponiki' wood (jivotia rotteri formis) for their toys. They will now use the technology of Kashmiri artisans, who dip toys in certain oils for permanent durability of colours and quality," he said.

The famous Kondapalli toys among others include Dasavathara, Ambari elephant, Indian occupational dolls, Krishna-Arjuna (Geethopadesm), bullockcart, and dolls in lacquer work. The prices of toys range from Rs 10 to Rs 1 lakh. A life-size idol of deities or a bullockcart, made out of 'regisa' wood, is priced at Rs 1 lakh.

Rao said the state government had allotted 100 hectare to the society at Avuladoddi, 20 km from here, under a social forestry programme for growing trees of their requirement. Artisans had already planted trees in 15 hectare.