NABARD’s New Delhi Regional Office observed the 23rd Geographical Indications (GI) Day with the theme “Preserving Heritage and Fostering Livelihoods”, highlighting the role of GI recognition in protecting traditional knowledge and creating livelihood opportunities for artisans and producer communities. The programme was chaired by Professor (Dr) Unnat P Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, DPIIT, Government of India. It was attended by Pushphas Pandey, MD, NABCONS; TD Sivakumar, CGM, EXIM Bank; DSahoo, GM and Convenor, SLBC; Natarajan Ramchandran, GM, SIDBI; and senior representatives from RBI, banks and government departments, besides artisans and other stakeholders.
A short film titled “नव सृजन” was launched during the programme. The film highlights six traditional Delhi crafts being taken forward for GI recognition. NABARD also released a Coffee Table Book documenting its work and initiatives related to GI products.
The event included a GI Bazar at the NABARD New Delhi Regional Office, with 22 stalls featuring artisans from Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The bazar provided artisans with an opportunity to showcase their products and connect with potential markets.
Nabin Kumar Roy, Chief General Manager, NABARD, New Delhi Regional Office, said NABARD’s GI initiative in Delhi had expanded from three products identified last year to nine products currently being taken forward for GI recognition. He emphasised that GI certification should be followed by measures covering institutional finance, skill development, branding and market access.
Mr Roy also highlighted the need to connect artisans with financial support mechanisms such as the Artisan Credit Card and PM Vishwakarma. He called for greater collaboration among banks and institutions to improve market access, ensure fair value for products and support sustainable livelihoods.
Discussions during the programme focused on the steps required after GI registration, including authorised-user registration, quality improvement, branding, packaging, digital marketing, logistics and market linkages. Participants also discussed traceability and QR-based authentication as tools to strengthen consumer confidence and improve the value of GI products.
Professor (Dr) Unnat P Pandit highlighted the importance of GIs in preserving cultural heritage and supporting sustainable livelihoods. He noted that 833 Indian GI products have been registered and discussed the potential for further expansion through coordinated efforts. He also announced the forthcoming Portal for online filing and tracking of applications in Hindi and English.
Artisans participating in the programme shared their experiences and highlighted the need for continued market access, institutional finance, better packaging and export opportunities. The programme concluded with a focus on moving beyond GI registration towards enterprise development, market creation and sustainable livelihoods for communities preserving India’s traditional crafts.
