GI tags help preserve heritage, empower artisans: Rajani Kant

Shillong, Aug 6: Geographical Indications (GI) are a powerful tool for preserving India’s cultural heritage while empowering artisan communities, said Rajani Kant on Wednesday.

Kant, a Padma Shri awardee, popularly known as the ‘GI Man of India’, said that over 650 GI applications have been submitted across 26 states and union territories, with 635 products already granted GI tags, including 36 from the Northeast region and five from Meghalaya alone.

Delivering the keynote address on the theme “Geographical Indications: From Local Craft to Global Identity”, Kant highlighted the critical role of GI tagging in connecting traditional crafts to international markets while protecting indigenous knowledge systems.

“GI is not just a legal instrument, it’s a means of survival for millions of artisans, particularly women and youth in rural India,” said Kant, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Human Welfare Association, Varanasi.

Sharing his personal journey from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, to global advocacy forums including WIPO and UNESCO, Kant spoke about his over three decades of ground-level work with weavers, craftspeople, and marginal communities.

He said GI recognition has led to tangible economic revival in many regions and called on National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Shillong to actively engage in protecting and promoting local heritage, aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

“Traditional knowledge needs guardians, and institutions like NIFT can play a pivotal role in taking forward our cultural narratives,” he added.

NIFT Shillong Director Shankar Kumar Jha lauded Kant’s grassroots leadership and said his presence would inspire students to pursue meaningful innovation rooted in Indian heritage.

The NIFT started its Handloom week celebrations on Wednesday, which will run until August 13. It will hold exhibitions, panel discussions, live demonstrations, and student-led projects to celebrate and reinterpret India’s handloom traditions. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

J-K Police unmasks major terror-funding network in Delhi; two arrested

Srinagar, Aug 6: The counter-intelligence wing of Jammu and...

Nagaland against separate Constitutional Article for ENPO demand

Kohima, Aug 6: The Nagaland government on Wednesday strongly...

PM Modi expected to visit China

New Delhi, Aug 6: After a gap of over...

CM directs Health Dept to speed up MHIS payments  

Measures ordered to address delay in payments and claim...

HYC writes to minister on erosion in EKH, says farmland threatened

Shillong, Aug 6: Concerned over the growing threat of...

Group urges CM to fast-track project approval for SWKH road

Shillong, aug 6: A delegation from South West Khasi...

HC satisfied with Govt action to tackle stray dog menace

Shillong, Aug 6: The Meghalaya High Court has expressed...

Memo to CM seeks subdivision status for Mawsynram block

Shillong, Aug 6: The demand for Mawsynram community and...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories