OUR CORRESPONDENT
DHUBRI: Geographical Indication Registry, Government of India, registered Asharikandi Terracotta of Dhubri district and certificate of GI registration was handed over to founder Director, North East Craft and Rural Development Organization (NECARDO) Binoy Bhattacharjee in a function held at Guwahati Radisson Blu by State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora recently in presence of Chief General Manager, SBI and NABARD.
The GI tag, awarded to Terracotta Craft of Asharikandi, Dhubri and the artisans of Asharikandi, bestowed responsibility to Binoy Bhattacharjee to coordinate with NABARD as Chairman in Post GI activities with NABARD Committee.
Registration with GI tag recognises the Terracotta and Pottery Crafts and Craftsmanship of the particular area of land mass and traditional practice of the craft by the craftsmen in and around Paul Para at Madaikhali Village under Asharikandi Gaon Panchayat of Debitola Development Block under Dhubri District of Assam.
Talking to The Sentinel, Director of NECARDO Binoy Bhattacharjee informed that this registration is a big achievement for the artisans of Asharikandi as it is equal to an intellectual property right and in the case of Gl tag to Asharikandi, the right will be enjoyed by the community as a whole instead of an individual.
“It is also almost like a patent right for the Asharikandi style of Terracotta which was applied by the Asharikandi Terracotta Doll Making Samabay Samit Ltd, a cooperative society comprised of all the artisan-families of Asharikandi Craft village,” Bhattacharjee added. He said that the place of landmass (Madaikhali Village), where the craft-village came up and managed to establish worldwide recognition in village craft tourism, was unknown till the year 1982. Efforts are being made primarily to showcase the craft-village’s ancient art, culture, heritage, and traditional practices through tourism, he further informed.
Also Read: Assam: Bodo Aronai, Food Items and Beverages Granted GI Tag
Also Watch: