Geographical Indication (GI) tags play a pivotal role in safeguarding and promoting unique products deeply rooted in cultural heritage. These tags, acknowledging the geographical origin of specific products, not only protect traditional knowledge but also contribute to the economic prosperity of local communities. In this blog, we will explore the essence of GI tags, their importance in preserving cultural identity, and their impact on local economies.
Understanding Geographical Indication
Definition and Legal Framework
A Geographical Indication is a sign that identifies a product as originating from a specific geographical location, attributing unique qualities and characteristics to that region. The legal framework for GI protection in India is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which aligns with international agreements like the TRIPS Agreement.
Distinction between GI, Trademarks, and Patents
GI tags differ from trademarks and patents, as they focus on the geographical origin of the product. While trademarks protect brand names and logos, patents safeguard inventions.
Criteria for Obtaining GI Tags
To secure a GI tag, a product must possess unique qualities, characteristics, or reputation attributable to its geographical origin. The application process involves thorough historical and empirical research.
List of GI Tags 2023
products | Categories | States/UTs |
Kashmir Saffron | Agriculture | Jammu & Kashmir |
Manipuri Black Rice | Food Stuff | Manipur |
Kandhamal Haladi | Agricultural | Odisha |
Rasagola | Food Stuff | Odisha |
Kodaikanal Malai Poondu | Agricultural | Tamil Nadu |
Pawndum | Handicraft | Mizoram |
Ngotekherh | Handicraft | Mizoram |
Hmaram | Handicraft | Mizoram |
Palani Panchamirtham | Food Stuff | Tamil Nadu |
Tawlhlohpuan | Handicraft | Mizoram |
Mizo Puanchei | Handicraft | Mizoram |
Gulbarga Tur Dal | Agricultural | Karnataka |
Tirur Betel Leaf (Tirur Vettila) | Agricultural | Kerala |
Khola Chilli | Agricultural | Goa |
Idu Mishmi Textiles | Handicraft | Arunachal Pradesh |
Dindigul Locks | Manufactured | Tamil Nadu |
Kandangi Saree | Handicraft | Tamil Nadu |
Srivilliputtur Palkova | Food Stuff | Tamil Nadu |
Amroha Dholak | Handicraft | Uttar Pradesh |
Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashilp | Handicraft | Uttar Pradesh |
Mainpuri Tarkashi | Handicraft | Uttar Pradesh |
Sambhal Horn Craft | Handicraft | Uttar Pradesh |
Baghpat Home Furnishings | Handicraft | Uttar Pradesh |
Barabanki Handloom Product | Handicraft | Uttar Pradesh |
Kalpi Handmade Paper | Handicraft | Uttar Pradesh |
State-Wise List of GI Tags in India
State | GT Tags |
Andhra Pradesh | Srikalahasthi Kalamkari Kondapalli Bommallu Machilipatnam Kalamkari Budithi Bell & Brass Metal Craft Andhra Pradesh Leather Puppetry Uppada Jamdani Sarees Venkatagiri Sarees Bobbili Veena Mangalagiri Sarees and Fabrics Dharmavaram Handloom Pattu Sarees And Paavadas Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery Durgi Stone Carvings Etikoppaka Toys Allagadda Stone Carving Tirupati Laddu Bandar Laddu Guntur Sannam Chilli Araku Valley Arabica Coffee |
Arunachal Pradesh | Idu Mishmi Textiles Arunachal Orange |
Assam | Muga Silk of Assam Muga Silk of Assam (Logo)
Assam Karbi Anglong Ginger Joha Rice of Assam Tezpur Litchi Boka Chaul Kaji Nemu |
Bihar | Madhubani Paintings Applique (Khatwa) Work of Bihar Sujini Embroidery Work of Bihar Sikki Grass Products of Bihar Bhagalpur Silk Applique (Khatwa) Work of Bihar (Logo) Sikki Grass Products of Bihar (Logo) Sujini Embroidery Work of Bihar(Logo) Bhagalpuri Zardalu Katarni Rice Maghai Paan Shahi Litchi of Bihar Silao Khaja |
Chhattisgarh | Bastar Dhokra Bastar Wooden Craft Bastar Iron Craft |
Goa | Khola Chilli Feni |
Gujarat | Sankheda Furniture Agates of Cambay Kutch Embroidery Tangaliya Shawl Surat Zari Craft Kachchh Shawls Patan Patola Sankheda Furniture (Logo) Kutch Embroidery (Logo) Agates of Cambay (Logo) Jamnagari Bandhani RajKot Patola Pethapur Printing Blocks Gir Kesar Mango Bhalia Wheat |
Himachal Pradesh | Kullu Shawl Kangra Tea Chamba Rumal Kinnauri Shawl Kullu ShawL (Logo) Kangra Paintings Himachali Kala Zeera Himachali Chulli Oil |
Jammu & Kashmir | Kani Shawl Kashmir Pashmina Kashmir Paper Machie Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving Khatamband Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet Saffron (Mongra, Lachha, Guchhi) |
Jharkhand | Sohrai – Khovar Painting |
Karnataka | Mysore Silk Bidriware Channapatna Toys & Dolls Mysore Rosewood Inlay Kasuti Embroidery Mysore Traditional Paintings Ilkal Sarees Ganjifa Cards of Mysore Navalgund Durries Karnataka Bronzeware Sandur Lambani Embroidery Kinhal Toys Udupi Sarees Mysore Silk (Logo) Coorg Orange Mysore Betel leaf Nanjangud Banana Udupi Mallige Mysore Mallige Hadagali Mallige Coorg Green Cardamom Devanahalli Pomelo Appemidi Mango Kamalapur Red Banana Bangalore Blue Grapes Coorg Arabica Coffee Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee Bababudangiri Arabica Coffee Sirsi Supari Gulbarga Tur Dal Dharwad Pedha Mysore Agarbathi Mysore Sandalwood Oil Mysore Sandal soap |
Kerala | Tirur Betel Leaf (Tirur Vettila) Alleppey Coir Navara Rice Palakkadan Matta Rice Alleppey Green Cardamom Maddalam of Palakkad Screw Pine Craft of Kerala Brass Broidered Coconut Shell Crafts of Kerala Pokkali Rice Vazhakulam Pineapple Cannanore Home Furnishings Balaramapuram Sarees and Fine Cotton Fabrics Kasaragod Sarees Kuthampully Sarees Central Travancore Jaggery Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice A Wayanad Gandhakasala Rice Payyannur Pavithra Ring Chendamangalam Dhoties & Set Mundu Kaipad Rice Chengalikodan Nendran Banana Kuthampully Dhoties & Set Mundu Maddalam of Palakkad (Logo) Brass Broidered Coconut Shell Craft of Kerala (Logo) Screw Pine Craft of Kerala (Logo Nilambur Teak Wayanad Robusta Coffee Marayoor Jaggery (Marayoor Sharkara) |
Madhya Pradesh | Chanderi Sarees Leather Toys of Indore Bagh Prints of Madhya Pradesh Bell Metal Ware of Datia and Tikamgarh Maheshwar Sarees & Fabrics Bell Metal Ware of Datia and Tikamgarh (Logo) Leather Toys of Indore (Logo) Ratlami Sev Bagh Prints of Madhya Pradesh (Logo ) Jhabua Kadaknath Black Chicken Meat |
Maharashtra | Solapur Chaddar Solapur Terry Towel Puneri Pagadi Nashik Valley Wine Paithani Sarees and Fabrics Mahabaleshwar Strawberry Nashik Grapes Kolhapur Jaggery Ajara Ghansal Rice Mangalwedha Jowar Sindhudurg & Ratnagiri Kokum Waghya Ghevada Navapur Tur Dal Vengurla Cashew Lasalgaon Onion Sangli Raisins Beed Custard Apple Jalna Sweet Orange Waigaon Turmeric Purandar Fig Jalgaon Bharit Brinjal Solapur Pomegranate Bhiwapur Chil Ambemohar Rice Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo Jalgaon Banana Marathwada Kesar Mango Karvath Kati Sarees & Fabrics Alphonso Sangli Turmeric |
Manipur | Shaphee Lanphee Wangkhei Phee Moirang Phee Kachai Lemon Chak-Hao |
Meghalaya | Khasi Mandarin Memong Narang |
Mizoram | Mizo Chilli Pawndum Ngotekherh Hmaram Tawlhlohpuan Mizo Puanchei |
Nagaland | Naga Mircha Naga Tree Tomato Chakhesang Shawl |
Odisha | Kotpad Handloom fabric Orissa Ikat Konark Stone carving Orissa Pattachitra Pipli Applique Work Khandua Saree and Fabrics Gopalpur Tussar Fabrics Ganjam Kewda Rooh Ganjam Kewda Flower Dhalapathar Parda & Fabrics Sambalpuri Bandha Saree & Fabrics Bomkai Saree & Fabrics Habaspuri Saree & Fabrics Berhampur Patta (Phoda Kumbha) Saree & Joda Orissa Pattachitra (Logo) Kandhamal Haladi Odisha Rasagola |
Rajasthan | Kota Doria Blue Pottery of Jaipur Molela Clay Work Kathputlis of Rajasthan Bikaneri Bhujia Kota Doria (Logo) Bagru Hand Block Print Thewa Art Work Makrana Marble Molela Clay Work of Rajasthan (Logo) Blue Pottery of Jaipur (Logo) Kathputlis of Rajasthan (Logo) Pokaran Pottery |
Tamil Nadu | Salem Fabric Kancheepuram Silk Kancheepuram Silk Madurai Sungudi Coimbatore Wet Grinder Thanjavur Paintings Temple Jewellery of Nagercoil Thanjavur Art Plate East India Leather Salem Silk known as Salem Venpattu Kovai Kora Cotton Sarees Arani Silk Swamimalai Bronze Icons Eathamozhi Tall Coconut Thanjavur Doll Nilgiri (Orthodox) Virupakshi Hill Banana Sirumalai Hill Banana Madurai Malli Pattamadai Pai (“Pattamadai Mat”) Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku (“Nachiarkoil Lamp”) Chettinad Kottan Toda Embroidery Thanjavur Veenai Thanjavur Art Plate (Logo) Swamimalai Bronze Icons (Logo) Temple Jewellery of Nagercoil (Logo) Mahabalipuram Stone Sculpture Erode Manjal (Erode Turmeric) Thirubuvanam Silk Sarees Kodaikanal Malai Poondu Palani Panchamirtham Dindigul Locks Kandangi Saree Srivilliputtur Palkova Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai Thanjavur Pith Works Arumbavur Wood Carvings |
Tripura | Tripura Queen Pineapple |
Telangana | Pochampally Ikat Silver Filigree of Karimnagar Nirmal Toys and Craft Nirmal Furniture Nirmal Paintings Gadwal Sarees Hyderabad Haleem Cheriyal Paintings Siddipet Gollabhama Narayanpet Handloom Sarees Pochampally Ikat (Logo) Adilabad Dokra Warangal Durries Telia Rumal |
Uttar Pradesh | Allahabad Surkha Guava Lucknow Chikan Craft Malihabadi Dusseheri mango Banaras Brocades and Sarees Hand Made Carpet of Bhadohi Agra Durrie Farrukhabad Prints Lucknow Zardozi Banaras Brocades and Sarees (Logo) Kalanamak Rice Firozabad Glass Kannauj Perfume Kanpur Saddlery Moradabad Metal Craft Saharanpur Wood Craft Meerut Scissors Khurja Pottery Banaras Gulabi Meenakari Craft Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware & Toys Mirzapur Handmade Dari Nizamabad Black Pottery Banaras Métal Repoussé Craft Varanasi Glass beads Ghazipur Wall Hanging Varanasi Soft Stone Jali Work Chunar Balua Patthar Gorakhpur Terracotta Kalpi Handmade Paper Barabanki Handloom Product Baghpat Home Furnishings Sambhal Horn Craft Mainpuri Tarkashi Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashilp Amroha Dholak |
West Bengal | Darjeeling Tea (word & logo) Nakshi Kantha Santiniketan Leather Goods Malda Laxman Bhog Mango Khirsapati (Himsagar) mangoes Malda Fazli Mango Santipur Saree Baluchari Saree Dhaniakhali Saree Joynagar Moa Bardhaman Sitabhog Bardhaman Mihidana Gobindobhog Rice Tulaipanji Rice Banglar Rasogolla Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft Bengal Patachitra Purulia Chhau Mask Wooden Mask of Kushmandi Madur kathi |
Significance of GI Tags
Protection of Cultural and Traditional Products
GI tags serve as a shield, preserving cultural and traditional products from imitation or unauthorized use. They empower local communities to maintain and showcase their distinctive heritage.
Economic Benefits for Local Communities
The economic impact of GI tags is substantial. Local producers gain exclusive rights, preventing others from exploiting the product's reputation. This exclusivity often leads to increased demand and stabilized prices, enhancing the overall economic status of the community.
Enhancing Product Quality and Reputation
GI tags are synonymous with quality and authenticity. The stringent standards for obtaining a GI tag ensure that the product maintains specific characteristics associated with its geographical origin, contributing to its overall reputation.
Success Stories
Highlighting Examples of Products with GI Tags
Recent examples from Kerala, including Attappady Attukombu Avara, showcase the diversity of products benefiting from GI protection. Similarly, Uttar Pradesh's Amroha Dholak and Maharashtra's Solapur Chaddar have gained recognition.
Impact on the Market and Local Economies
Products with GI tags often experience increased demand, both domestically and internationally. This surge in popularity translates to economic growth for the local communities involved in their production.
Global Recognition and Appreciation
GI tags provide global recognition, positioning the products on a distinguished platform. This recognition not only contributes to the economic growth of the region but also fosters pride among the local populace.
Challenges and Controversies
Potential Misuse and Imitation
Despite the protective measures, there are instances of potential misuse or imitation of products. Strict enforcement and continuous monitoring are necessary to address such challenges.
Legal Battles and Enforcement Issues
Disputes over the origin of certain products, such as the case of Roshogulla between West Bengal and Odisha, highlight the legal battles and enforcement challenges associated with GI tags.
Balancing Commercial Interests and Cultural Preservation
Finding the delicate balance between commercial interests and cultural preservation remains a challenge. States often engage in unhealthy competition, leading to regional conflicts rather than collaborative promotion.
Steps to Obtain GI Tags
Application Process and Requirements
The application process involves a comprehensive examination of historical and empirical evidence supporting the product's geographical origin. Stakeholders, including local communities, play a vital role in providing the necessary information.
Involvement of Local Communities and Stakeholders
Local communities and stakeholders must actively participate in the application process. Their involvement ensures that the true essence of the product and its cultural significance are accurately represented.
Case Studies of Successful Applications
Examining successful case studies, such as the recent GI tags awarded to products from Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, provides insights into the effective strategies employed during the application process.
Future Prospects
Emerging Trends in GI Protection
As the world becomes more interconnected, emerging trends in GI protection include increased international collaboration and the extension of protection to new regions and products.
Globalization and Its Impact on GI Tags
Globalization presents both opportunities and challenges for products with GI tags. While it opens up new markets, it also poses the risk of diluting the uniqueness of traditional products.
Potential Expansion of the GI System
The GI system has the potential to expand to cover a broader range of products, especially those deeply ingrained in cultural and traditional practices.
Recommendations for Stakeholders
Government Initiatives and Policies
Governments should formulate and implement robust policies to streamline the GI application process and provide adequate support to local communities.
Role of Businesses and Producers
Businesses and producers should actively participate in the GI application process, ensuring that their products receive the recognition they deserve.
Public Awareness and Education
Creating awareness among the public about the significance of GI tags and the cultural heritage associated with these products is crucial for fostering appreciation and support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Geographical Indication tags are invaluable in preserving and promoting cultural heritage through unique products. Their significance extends beyond legal protection to encompass economic development, global recognition, and the preservation of traditional practices. As we move forward, it is essential for stakeholders to collaborate, address challenges, and actively contribute to the continued success of products with GI tags. Through collective efforts, we can ensure the sustained protection and promotion of our rich cultural heritage.
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