Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
New Delhi, Jan 9, 2000: The Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI) has called for compulsory registration of holograms manufactured or imported into India. In this regard, the HoMAI has set up a Hologram Roster (HR) in the Capital recently which besides ensuring speedy registration of holograms also guarantees security of images/holograms to its owners. “It enables us to independently register holograms and ensure that copying of the images is not possible,” says Arun Rastogi, HoMAI. So far, 1,255 images have been registered with the HoMAI.
Interestingly, it’s not mandatory to register a hologram with the government departments handling copyright issues. Those who register the images have to wait for six to nine months. In contrast, HoMAI claims, its HR, registers the image in 45 hours.
The association which held its general body meeting recently in the Capital has also called for recognition of the industry and greater use of holograms in the government sector. According to Dhillon, there’s a tremendous opportunity for the government to recover revenue by using holograms in departments such as the Central Excise where there’s maximum misuse of Modvat invoices, driving licenses, transport permits, examination certificates.
In Tamil Nadu, for instance, which has initiated the use of holograms in the Excise department, the recovery has been as much as 15-20 per cent (Rs 150 crore) in a year while the total investment has been just Rs 5 crore. “Increasing incidents of country-made spurious liquor, synthetic milk and adulterated mustard oil are some recent examples which could have been avoided with the usage of holograms,” says U K Gupta, president, HoMAI.
“Companies can register a 100 per cent return if they use holograms on their brands,” adds Kapil Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Holographics India, an HoMAI member. The association has also called for a stringent control and verification of imported holograms.
The association is planning to promote the use of holograms by increasing the awareness level of the user by holding seminars, participating in exhibitions; giving demonstration through a portable display unit; circulating introductory letters to various associations; and making presentations to various government departments. Besides these, the body is also exploring possibilities of an export market for its members; and develop and upgrade members’ skills and understanding by exposing them to the professional update and educational programmes on technology in the hologram manufacturing and its constantly changing requirements; catalyse ISO 9000 certification of member companies.
HoMAI is the only all-India association of carefully scrutinised and stringently chosen top manufacturers, suppliers of holographic machinery/raw material and R&D centres. It also closely cooperates with international organisations pertaining to holographic science and technology, and maintains close liaison with them.