Two more crafts form unique to the state of Telangana have been granted the GI (Geographical Indication) tag by the GI registry in Chennai.
- Adilabad Dokra, an ancient metal craft that is popular in the state’s tribal regions, and Warangal durries or rugs, which are woven in handloom clusters in Warangal and Pochampally among other areas, have now been declared unique to the region.
What is a GI Tag?
- GI tag is name or sign used on certain products which correspond to specific geographical location or origin.
- It is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods having special quality and established reputation.
- The registration of a GI is valid for 10 years after which it needs to be renewed.
- Violation of GI tags is punishable offence under law.
- GI is covered as element of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property.
- GI is governed by WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) at the international level.
- In India, the GI Tag is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection Act), 1999.
- This Act is administered by Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is also Registrar of Geographical Indications.
Significance of the GI Tag
- The Technology Centre of CII has facilitated State Handicrafts Development Corporation towards the registrations of Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Durries as Geographical Indications.
- The centre has till now facilitated in registration of 24 products under GI, out of which nine are now registered from Telangana.
- The GI certification of these crafts will help the authentic producers to earn a premium on their products, thereby helping in improving their livelihood.
- GI tag can be used as a marketing tool to promote the products in India and abroad.
- GI Protection benefits both producers and consumers.
- The latter can have access to a genuine product, whereas the former can have opportunity to build brands. Apart from that, it will be protected against a loss of their business against individuals involved in counterfeit production.
Adilabad Dokra
- It is form of ancient bell metal craft practiced by Woj community native to the Adilabad district of Telangana.
- The Dhokra craftsmen belong to the Woj community, called Wojaris, and also called Otaris, in Telangana State.
- The uniqueness of Adilabad Dokra is that no two pieces are alike in shape as well as in size and hence replicas of the antiques are nearly impossible.
- The unique technique used is the cire perdue i.e. the lost wax casting technique. It is a technique in which duplicate metal sculpture is cast from an original sculpture.
- Adilabad Dhokra metal casting products mainly include idols of local deities, bells, dancing figures, jewellery, statues and other decorative items. Apart from these, they also makes figures of animals and birds, and jewels.
- More than 100 families are involved in this hereditary craft in five villages of the Adilabad district.
Warangal Durries
- Dhurries is popular traditional thick cotton rug in which weavers create beautiful patterns and dye them using vegetable colours, which are washed in flowing water after the printing process.
- The main geographical factor that made Warangal famous as Durrie weaving centre is availability of cotton.
- Cotton is abundantly produced in Warangal for many decades and has a major pie in the cotton production in Telangana.
- Currently, there are more than 2000 weaving community members present in Kothawada, Warangal in spinning Dhurrie.
- The products are exported mainly to UK, Germany along with few other European and African countries.
- According to the Handloom Export Promotion Council, 80% of the handwoven durries sold in European and American markets are woven in India.
