‘Govt efforts will help our GI products get global reach’
There are 10 products of Varanasi region that have the GI tag
As the Yogi government is taking several steps to promote export of products that have been accorded geographical indication or GI tag, craftsmen of Varanasi region—the hub of such products— feel that the government’s efforts will help their products have global reach and identity soon.
The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product’s source, acts as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin.
There are 10 products of Varanasi region that have the GI tag.
They include Banarasi sarees, wooden toys, Varanasi glass beads, metal repousse, wall hanging, Nizamabad black pottery, Chunar sandstone, Bhadohi carpets, Mirzapur durries and pink enamelling.
“Our craft faced many ups and downs. But we have worked hard to preserve it. We hope that the steps being taken by the government to promote export of GI products, products made by us will have global reach and global identity,” says craftsman Bachcha Lal Maurya. A state awardee, he is famous for his expertise in soft stone undercut artefacts. “If export of GI products increases, demand of such products will increase and it will directly benefit the craftsmen and craftswomen making these products,” he adds.
“Efforts are being made in right direction to give a boost to GI products’ export. These are unique products. However, our unique toys are yet to get large scale global identity. I wish the state government’s efforts yield desired result,” says another state awardee master craftsman Rameshwar Singh who has played a crucial role in preserving wooden toys.
“It needs great expertise and craftsmen like me have preserved this art from extinction. GI product’s export promotion will give a boost to ‘Gulabi Minakari’ (pink enamelling) in the region,” says national award winner master craftsman Kunj Bihari Singh. Enamelling is the art of decorating a metal surface by fusing mineral substances on it. It is done on jewellery items.
Craftsman Dhruv Kumar Pandey of glass beads, craftsman Anil Kumar Kasera of metal craft repousse, state awardee Pyare Lal Maurya of Mirzapur handmade carpet echo similar views. GI expert, Padma Shri Dr Rajnikant, who works for the preservation of these crafts and has played a crucial role in getting GI tag to 10 items of handicraft and handloom, says, “The government has started promotion of GI products by their marketing and branding across the globe. It will increase demand of the GI products in the international market. Thus, lakhs of craftsmen and craftswomen associated directly with the production of GI products will be benefitted in the long run.”
Reviewing the promotion of GI products of Varanasi via a video link on Thursday, state chief secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari said GI exhibitions should be organised at regular intervals for demand and branding of these products in the international market. He also said mechanisms should be fixed for issuing bar codes /QR codes to provide information about the quality of GI products to buyers. “Training on new designs and innovations is also being given to the craftsmen so that they carry forward this legacy of crafts,” said joint commissioner (industries), Varanasi region, Umesh Kumar Singh.