Four traditional Assam products — Karbi Anglong handloom items, the Assam Bihu pepa, Assam bamboo crafts and Deuri handloom products — have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags by the Geographical Indications Registry of the Government of India, a move aimed at boosting market access for artisans and protecting indigenous cultural practices. The announcement, made from Guwahati, follows facilitation of the registration process by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
A GI tag legally links a product to a specific geographic region and protects it from imitation and misuse. Officials say the recognition will raise the visibility of these crafts in domestic and international markets, help artisans secure better prices and broaden distribution channels for weavers and craftsmen across Assam.
NABARD played a central role in identifying and supporting the applications. The agency plans to move beyond certification to build a sustainable ecosystem around the newly recognised products, focusing on branding, marketing, capacity building, enterprise development and market linkages to ensure long-term benefits for producers.
Loken Das, Chief General Manager of NABARD Assam, said the move is an important step for heritage-based rural livelihoods, stressing that such certifications strengthen product identity and market potential. He added that with these additions, NABARD has now supported 12 GI-certified products, a milestone for the bank’s efforts in the region.
Assam’s handloom traditions, bamboo craftsmanship and tribal cultural instruments like the pepa are embedded in local communities and passed down through generations. Officials believe GI recognition will not only create new economic opportunities but also help preserve these age-old skills amid growing market competition.
The authorities’ roadmap emphasizes transforming GI certification into scalable, remunerative livelihood opportunities while conserving Assam’s cultural heritage. The new tags expand the state’s portfolio of GI-protected products and reinforce the strategy of using traditional knowledge and cultural assets to drive inclusive rural economic growth.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/assam/assam-adds-four-new-gi-tagged-products-strengthening-artisan-economy/54090/
Category: Assam,Craft,GI tag,Handloom,Traditional Products
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Publish Date: 2026-06-14 15:48:00
