GI
help-desk to be set up in every office of handicrafts and handlooms: Textiles
Minister
Textiles
Minister launches Helpline for Handicraft Artisans
Textiles
Minister inaugurates National Workshop on Promotion of Unique Textiles and
Handicrafts
The Union Textiles
Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani has said that the Geographical Indication tag
helps not only weavers and artisans, but also the consumers. The Minister said
that the GI tag is an assurance of getting the right product at the right
price, directly from the weaver/artisan. Smt. Irani highlighted the importance
of building consumer awareness on this matter, while addressing the inaugural
session of the two-day “National Workshop on Promotion of Unique Textiles and
Handicrafts for GI and Post-GI Initiatives”, being held under the aegis of the
Ministry of Textiles, in Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
Noting that many of the
challenges in GI are faced after obtaining GI registration, the Minister called
for the need to build a wider appreciation of the value of GI among all
stakeholders, in order for better implementation of the legal provisions.
Smt. Irani announced that
a GI help-desk would soon be set up in every Service Centre run by the
Government for weavers and artisans. She said this would help bridge the information
gap between Centre and the field, and would assist weavers and artisans in
availing the benefits of Geographical Indications. The Minister said that this
is being done to maximize governance, in line with the Government’s developmental
philosophy of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas.
The Minister also
launched a helpline for handicraft artisans today; the helpline number is 1800-2084-800.
Recalling that the problems of 6,707 weavers have been resolved so far through
the Bunkar Mitra helpline for handloom weavers, the Minister said that the
Handloom Census has started, and that weavers will be given identity cards at
the next National Handloom Day. The Minister also observed that the Government
has decided to give 75% fee subsidy to the children of weavers and artisans of
BPL families, for pursuing school education under NIOS and university education
from IGNOU.
Smt. Irani assured the
audience that the points raised during the workshop will be taken up by the
Textiles Committee for the consideration of the Government. She also said that the
Ministry of Textiles would take up issues requiring changes to the legal
framework with the Ministry of Law & Justice.
The Minister also
released a Compendium of Indian Handicrafts & Handlooms covered under
Geographical Indications (GI), which has been compiled by NCDPD, on behalf of Ministry
of Textiles. The compendium contains list and
details of all 149 Indian Handicrafts & Handlooms covered under GI, till April
2017. The compendium also consists of the list of awardees of GI-tagged
handicraft and handloom products. This is a unique & first-of-its-kind
compilation.
The Minister also released two reports of the Textiles Committee, on traditional hand-wovens of i) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and ii) Karnataka.
She also handed over GI
certificates to three registered proprietors, who are producers of Jamnagari
Bandhani, Jamnagar, Gujarat; Kuthampully Dhoties and Set Mundu, Kerala; Karvath
Kati Sarees & Fabrics, Maharashtra.
Minister of State,
Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta said that the more widespread adoption of
Geographical Indications would be highly beneficial to the handicraft and
handloom sectors, especially in protecting and preserving the rich cultural
heritage associated with them. Shri Tamta said that the workshop is a step in this
direction, which would contribute to the social and economic empowerment of
handloom weavers and handicraft artisans. The Minister said that the artisan
helpline launched today would enable empowerment of the last person on the
street, through provision of required information.
Besides Secretary,
Textiles, Smt. Rashmi Verma; Chairperson, Craft Revival Trust, Ms. Ritu Sethi; Ms.
Delphine Marie-Vivien, Centre for International Cooperation in Agronomics
Research and Development (CIRAD); and other dignitaries, hundreds of handicraft
artisans from various states and regions across the country were present for
the workshop.
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GG/DJM