Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Feb 17: The handicrafts department has intensified its Geographic Indication (GI) tagging process as more than 34000 handicraft products have been labelled in the last two years.
As per the figures accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a total of 34296 handicraft products including shawls, paper mache , walnut wood and others have been GI tagged in the last two years.
Data revealed in the first three quarters (April to December 31) of the year 2023, a total of 21392 handicrafts products have been GI tagged.
Prior to that in the years 2022-23, 12904 handicrafts products were GI tagged by the handicrafts department.
Out of the 21392 handicrafts products GI tagged last year, a total of 11290 Pashmina shawls have been labelled. Data suggested that 4840 and 3596 Sozini and carpet, respectively, were also labelled last year. 577 Paper Machie, 286 Kani Shawl, 797 walnut wood, and 6 Khatamband were also GI tagged last year.
GI tagging is a recognition granted to products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin.
This recognition guarantees that customers are receiving genuine, high-quality products while also protecting traditional production techniques and adding value to the products.
As per an official document, Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory/State in India to issue QR-based labels for all its crafts.
Documents also revealed that the granting of GI tag has subsequently enhanced the exports of these two particular handicrafts in the last two years.
It said in the last four years handicrafts worth Rs 4,740 crore have been exported to various countries.
Official data revealed that handicrafts worth Rs. 1116.37 crore were exported in FY 2022-23 against Rs. 563.13 Crore in FY 2021-22.
An official of the handicrafts department said the production as well as the exports has increased post GI tagging approval for the handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The artisans got their due credit for their hard work with GI tagging. It has benefited the handicrafts sector as the producers get desired returns for their crafts and their products reach various corners of the world,” he said—(KNO)
