SHIMLA: Artisans associated with three traditional products of Himachal Pradesh — Ransingha, wood carving and handmade carpets — which have recently received Geographical Indication (GI) tags, called on Governor Kavinder Gupta at Lok Bhavan on Wednesday.
The GI registration process was facilitated by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Himachal Pradesh Regional Office, in collaboration with local producer groups, artisan groups and other stakeholders.
On the occasion, the Governor, through NABARD officials, presented GI certificates to Manish Bharti and Mahesh Bharti of Aachri Foundation, Kullu; Shakuntala Devi, carpet artisan; Hira Mani of SAVM organisation, Mandi; Pradeep Kumar, Ransingha artisan; and Krishan Lal, wood-carving artisan.
Speaking on the occasion, Gupta said the GI tag would help protect the unique identity and authenticity of Himachal Pradesh’s traditional products and strengthen their recognition in domestic and international markets.
He said the recognition would also help ensure that artisans and communities associated with these crafts receive greater acknowledgement and better economic value for their skills.
The Governor appreciated NABARD’s efforts in supporting producer and artisan groups in securing GI recognition for traditional products and said such initiatives were important for preserving Himachal Pradesh’s cultural heritage while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
Gupta stressed the need to further promote Himachali products through quality improvement, branding, modern marketing, e-commerce and wider market linkages so that the State’s traditional craftsmanship could reach consumers across India and abroad.
He said traditional crafts represent the cultural identity and heritage of Himachal Pradesh and called for greater efforts to pass these skills on to younger generations while ensuring that traditional craftsmanship remains economically viable.
Secretary to the Governor Sandeep Bhardwaj was also present on the occasion.
