Varanasi: City gets another platform for the promotion of beautiful Kashi craft in the form of cooperation and the International Convention Center – Rudraksh – After Deendayal Hastkala Sankul (Center for Trade & Museums), the Trade Facilitation Center in Varanasi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi put the foundation stone and inaugurated both projects.
While the center of Rudraksh built in the Sigra area was inaugurated on Thursday, TFC, located in the Bada Lalpur area, was inaugurated on September 23, 2017.
“When inaugurating Rudraksh on Thursday, PM talked about work done for promotion of handicrafts and arts of banarasi, “said GI expert Rajani Kant from the human welfare community.
“We hope that the center of Rudraksh will help in promoting a certified product of geographical indications (GI) from this region globally,” he said.
While overcoming the meeting of the intellectuals in Rudraksh, PM said that many jobs have been carried out in the last 6-7 years for promotion and strengthening banarasi and art crafts.
“Silk and banner crafts get new identities and commercial activities are also growing.
Rudraksh will help in further expansion of this activity.
This infrastructure can be used for business activities in many ways,” said PM.
“PM has mentioned silk and craft banarasi, which is a Tagged GI product,” Kant said, adding that so far 12 products from the east to the top have received GI tags, while five other products will soon get a certificate.
“In addition, the application of GI certificates for four products including Langada Mango’s banarasi, Banarai Paan (Bethel) leaf, Adamchni Chawal (Rice) and Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjel) has been submitted during the Covid-19 pandemic period”, he said.
12 items, which have received GI tags including Brocade Banarasi and Sari, Handmade Bhadohi Carpets, Mirzapur Handmade Durri, Varanasi Lacquerware and Wooden Toys, Banaras Metal Theenakari, Banaras Gulabi Meenakari (Pink Sameling), Varanasi Soft Stone Jali, Nizamabad Black Pottery , Ghazipur Wall Hanging, Varanasi Glass Beads, Chunar Balua Pathar (Sand Stone) and Gorakhpur Terracotta.
Five items include Zardozi Craft Varanasi, Banaras Hand Block Print, Mirzapur Pital Bartan (Kuningan Ware) and Glazed Chunar pottery will receive a GI certificate immediately.
“About 20 lakh people involved in this craft make annual turnover around Rs 22,500 Crore,” Kant’s claim.
Deendayal Hastkala Sankul (Trade Center & Museum) is the first center for art promotion and crafts.
It is a modern and integrated facility developed by the Ministry of Textile to support the Handloom and Craft Sector Varanasi and the nearest area, by providing a platform for increasing trade, facilitation for domestic and international buyers and carrying traditions of handloom and rich handicrafts.