In a historic event at Karkhiyav, the Honorable Prime Minister awarded GI Authorized User Certificates to the artisans of five distinguished Geographical Indication (GI) crafts. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first occasion since the GI law’s introduction in India in 2003 that such recognition has been personally bestowed by a Prime Minister. The recipients of this prestigious acknowledgment include Mrs. Amrita Singh for Varanasi Wooden Lacquer Ware and Toys, Shri Jamaluddin Ansari for Banaras Zardozi, Shrikant Mishra for Banaras Hand Block Print, an artisan from Lal Ghat for Banaras Pink Meenakari, and Siddharth Maurya for Varanasi Soft Stone Jali Craft.
This gesture was celebrated in a grand ceremony, highlighting the government’s commitment to promoting and preserving India’s rich heritage of craftsmanship. Padma Shri awardee Dr. Rajni Kant, a GI Expert, expressed his gratitude towards the Prime Minister for this initiative, noting its potential to significantly boost GI registration and related activities across the country. He anticipates that the total number of GI registered products in India will soon surpass 1000, with Uttar Pradesh alone boasting over 150 GI tags.
The Varanasi region, in particular, has seen remarkable growth in GI registrations, increasing from just 2 GI tags before 2014 to 18 tags by 2023, with an additional 13 tags expected by the end of March 2024. This transformation underscores the shift of India’s intellectual property from local to global recognition, particularly in Kashi and its surrounding districts. To date, over 2000 artisans, weavers, producers, exporters, and traders from the Varanasi region have been registered as GI authorized users, with around 1000 more applications pending, showcasing the vibrant and thriving culture of Indian craftsmanship on the global stage.
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