Source: Exploring India’s diverse cultural heritage through GI tags (The Hindu, January 9, 2024)
- New GI Tags: Recently, Seventeen new products from six Indian States and Union Territories were awarded the GI tag. These include crafts like Odisha’s Dongaria Kondh shawl. They also include foods like West Bengal’s Sundarban Honey. A GI tag shows a product’s unique link to its place of origin.
- Understanding GI Tags: A GI tag indicates a product’s distinct connection to a location. For example, Tirupati is known for laddus, and Nagpur for oranges. Both have GI tags. To get a GI tag, applicants must detail the product’s unique qualities and creation process.
- Application Process: Groups like traders’ bodies or associations can apply. They must show the item’s history and how it’s made. GI tags cover not only well-known items but also obscure ones. A tag brings attention to a region and its specialties.
- Raw Material Origins: Raw materials for GI-tagged products may be sourced from different regions. For example, the leaf used in Banarasi paan is not from Varanasi but from Bihar, West Bengal, or Odisha.
- Silk and Gold Zari: Kancheepuram sarees’ mulberry silk is procured from Karnataka. The sarees’ gold zari comes from Surat.
- Range of Products: Over 500 products had received GI tags by January 7, 2023. They cover 34 classes of goods. These include a wide array from chemicals to foodstuffs and textiles.
- Categories and Handicrafts: GI products fall into five broad categories. Handicrafts form the largest group with more than half the tags. This showcases the work of skilled artisans.
Also Read | From red ant chutney to black rice, the 7 Odisha products that have bagged GI tags
Geographic Indications by Indian States
Every Indian State possesses at least one Geographic Indication (GI) tag. GI tags indicate unique products specific to a region. However, they don’t fully represent cultural richness. A higher number of GI tags in a State simply means more items have achieved registry status.
- Tamil Nadu Leads: Tamil Nadu is at the forefront with 61 GI tags.
- Uttar Pradesh in Second Place: Uttar Pradesh follows with 56 GI tags. Notable items include Agra’s leather footwear, Kanpur’s saddles, and Lucknow’s Chikankari embroidery.
- Other States’ Counts: Karnataka holds 48 GI tags, Kerala has 39, and Maharashtra owns 35. Coimbatore’s wet grinder falls under the “manufactured” category.
Cultural Hotspots
- Banaras: A Cultural Treasure: Banaras, also known as Varanasi, is rich in tradition. It claims 11 GI tags for various crafts and produce, including the renowned Banarasi paan.
- Mysuru’s Regal Offerings: Mysuru, once ruled by the Wodeyars, contributes 10 unique GI-tagged items. They range from the Mysore mallige to the locally made sandalwood soap.
- Thanjavur’s Artistic Legacy: Thanjavur is famous for its paintings and bobblehead dolls. It proudly boasts five GI tags.