Goa government seeks geographical indication status for.....(ToI)

Goa government seeks geographical indication status for azulejos, crochet, coconut craft Anisha Francis, TNN | Jun 13, 2013, 02.43 AM IST PANAJI: The office of the development commissioner for handicrafts has sought GI (geographical indication) status for three handicraft items they claim are unique to Goa—azulejos (painted tiles), crochet and the centuries-old handicraft of coconut carving. Hoping a GI tag would encourage artisans to teach the familial trade to their children and keep the skills alive, the commission is confident that their applications will not be turned down. "The azulejos tiles, crochet craft and coconut-shell carvings have already put Goa on the map. These items are favourites for gifting among foreign tourists, and they promote 'Brand Goa' wherever they are taken," S R Toraskar, investigator for Goa at the office of the development commissioner, said. The office has been supporting Goan artisans, offering them training and mediclaim benefits since 1980. While GI registration identifies the place of origin of a certain product, it is a known fact that the azulejos style of tile-painting was brought to Goa by the Portuguese, who in turn learnt it from ancient Assyrians and Persians. "It may be a Portuguese art form, but Goan artisans from Moira and Bicholim villages have evolved the technique and perfected the craft. They do not paint tiles like this anywhere else in India," Toraskar said. "Similarly, the delicate crochet craft practiced by skilled women in Panaji and Margao also involves a unique Goan technique—the knots are much better and the designs are exquisite," he said. Toraskar pointed out that crochet items made of superior yarn—blouses, bed covers, table-runners, curtains, doilies are an integral part of a Goan bride's trousseau. The three applications have been sent to the Chennai-based Geographical Indications Registry, which has countries and regions from across the world on its waiting-list, vying for a GI-tag. The application should include a description of the product and its special characteristics, proof of its origin from the geographical location, and how its standards are maintained. The GI application comes as a desperate attempt to revive Goan handicrafts. "The typical Goan skills of wood carving and bamboo artefacts died out because the artisans had stopped passing down the skills to the next generation. Their children prefer to move out of the village clusters and find industrial work in the cities," Toraskar said. The commission could be in for some disappointment. Crochet and azulejos are European crafts that were brought to Goa by the colonists. "The coconut carving is our best bet for a GI-tag," Botanical society of Goa secretary Miguel Braganza said. "Goan craftsmen have been sculpting coconut shells into artistic and handy items for hundreds of years, and the skill has now been popularized by Vijaydutta Lotlikar. Kerala also churns out coconut crafts, but the range of items here—cutlery, deities, jewellery, toys, feni-mugs—and their high-quality finish are truly Goan," Braganza said. Even as other states are aggressively pushing their specialities for GI status—Hyderabadi biryani, Kolhapuri chappals, Mizo chilli, Agra petha and Nagpur oranges are among others on the GI waiting-list—Goa's cashew feni remains its singular GI outing. "Other states have dedicated teams that deal exclusively with GI registration. We should establish a cell, maybe under the science and technology department, to ensure GI protection for our treasures," Braganza http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-government-seeks-geographical-indication-status-for-azulejos-crochet-coconut-craft/articleshow/20564490.cms